Of course, only the ignorant or naive would think the Islamic terrorists would stop now. Bruce http://www.manilastandardonline.com/?page=news05_aug10_2005 Lawmaker raises specter of new terrorist attacks
A lawmaker from Cebu yesterday urged Malacañang to step up vigilance against possible terrorist attacks in the country. The warning came in the wake of intelligence reports shared by other Asian countries that the Philippines could be the next target of Jemaah Islamiyah, an Al Qaida-affiliated terrorist network operating in the country. Rep. Antonio Cuenco said the countrys security forces in all the major cities of the archipelago should be placed on high alert to thwart attacks similar to the London bombings. So-called soft targets, such as populous areas like bus, sea and train terminals, airports, markets, churches, schools and other commercial establishments should all be secured by police personnel, Cuenco said, adding that those places are often hard to secure. The Cebu solon said security forces should closely monitor the suspected entry of suicide attackers from Indonesia and the reports that they are acquiring explosives and personnel to carry out such attacks on the local populace. The series of bomb attacks that hit London last July 7 can not hide the fact that the most recent terror incidents occurred in Asia. The trend and indicators unmistakably lead to Southeast Asia, he said. No diversionary tactic Cuenco warned Filipinos against becoming complacent. The public should not conveniently dismiss the intelligence reports on Al Qaida as a mere diversionary tactic to divert pubic attention from serious accusations against the Presidency of the land. Remember that such kind of apathy may just become an added incentive to these dread attacks, he said. The horrific accounts of the July 7 carnage at London, with many bits of bodies, heads and arms and legs scattered in the underground trains including that of the bus blown literally and hurled 40 meters away from where it stood should be more than enough to prod us in the coming days to observe and maintain all the vigilance and care we could muster, he added. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration was placed on alert status in the wake of intelligence reports that Indonesian terrorists who are members of the Jemaah Islamiyah might seek refuge among their compatriots who have been living in Mindanao. Thousands of Indonesians have been living in the south for almost five decades and have virtually assimilated themselves into Philippine society. Many of them speak the local dialect and have sired children with Filipino spouses. To prevent the entry of suspected Indonesian terrorists, immigration officials have intensified the campaign to register thousands of undocumented Indonesians. Sanctuary According to Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez, the registration drive will make it difficult for terrorists to seek sanctuary among their kin. Marine soldiers are deployed in Zamboanga City and Brooks Point, Palawan to assist immigration officers and beef up security in the southern ports. A total of 2,641 Indonesians based in several Mindanao provinces were already issued their alien certificates of registrations (ACRs), according to BI Bay Service Section chief Jose Carandang. The bureau expects to register at least 3,000 of the more than 7,000 Indonesians being targeted under the program by the end of the year. Majority of the Indonesians hail from the province of Sarangani, South Cotabato and Davao del Sur and also in the towns of Glan, Jose Abad Santos and General Santos City. Those who do not register will be considered illegally staying aliens and subject to arrest and deportation, Fernandez said. Fernandez said he has yet to confirm reports attributed to National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales that 10 members of the Indonesia-based JI have crossed the border to carry out terror attacks in the country but he said immigration authorities in the South have already been on high alert since the 9/11 terror attacks in the US. Romie A. Evanglista and Vito Barcelo [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> <font face=arial size=-1><a href="http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12hiqg2u4/M=362329.6886306.7839369.3040540/D=groups/S=1705323667:TM/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1123611750/A=2894321/R=0/SIG=11dvsfulr/*http://youthnoise.com/page.php?page_id=1992 ">Fair play? Video games influencing politics. Click and talk back!</a>.</font> --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? 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