Australia: Terror attack in Manila may be imminent

[Monseratto]

Is our goverment really clueless about this? But be cautious, better be safe than sorry...Christmas season pa naman.

http://www.islandpacket.com/2010/11/...in-manila.html

MANILA, Philippines — The United States and Australia warned of possible terrorist attacks in Manila and the southern Philippines, sparking a security alarm in the bustling capital Wednesday with additional deployments of police patrols and intelligence agents.

Although the U.S. and Australia have previously issued similar security alerts for the volatile southern Philippines, where Muslim rebels and al-Qaida militants are active, both specifically mentioned Manila as a possible target in their latest travel advisories.

Australia, citing unspecified but reliable reports, said an attack in the capital may be "imminent."

Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Wednesday that the military and police have not monitored any specific threat but that the government is taking no chances.

The Western countries, along with Britain, warned their citizens visiting the Philippines to stay away from shopping malls, convention centers and places frequented by foreigners. The warnings did not identify the source of the threat or release other details.

"Reliable reports indicate that terrorist attacks may be imminent in Manila," said Australia's advisory posted on a government website.

U.S. and Australian embassy officials contacted by The Associated Press did not elaborate on their governments' advisories.

British Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Colin Crorkin said his country's assessment of the high risks of terrorist strikes in the Philippines had not changed but added that his government recently included additional possible targets such as airports, malls and places of worship.

A Philippine official said the warnings may have come from a confidential terrorist threat assessment report by Western security officials indicating that unspecified Muslim extremists may attack a popular Manila mall, a trade center and political figures, including Manila-based diplomats. The official, who monitors security threats, spoke on condition of anonymity for lack of authority to talk to the press.

Gazmin told the AP that the government sent intelligence agents to verify the threat. Authorities also plan to ask the U.S., Australian and British embassies to provide more details.

"We are taking this seriously, and we know that this is creating apprehension," Gazmin said. "We have deployed intelligence agents but they have not come back with anything specific."

He said he discussed with the military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Ricardo David, the possible deployment of marines in shopping malls and other public areas. However, Gazmin was reluctant to immediately take that step because it has been criticized in the past by leftist lawmakers.

The Philippines, including its capital, has been hit by deadly terrorist attacks in the past.

Despite years of battle setbacks, Muslim militants, including those from the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf, have continued to plot attacks, at times collaborating with Indonesian militants belonging to the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist network, according to the military.

Abu Sayyaf militants were blamed for the bombing of an inter-island ferry in Manila Bay in 2004, setting off an inferno that killed 116 people in Southeast Asia's second-worst terrorist strike.

The militants also claimed responsibility for Feb. 14, 2005 bombings of a bus in Manila's Makati financial district and two other southern towns that killed eight people and wounded more than 100 others.

[Monseratto]

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11...-attack-report

San Juan target of terror attack: report
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 11/03/2010 8:19 PM | Updated as of 11/04/2010 12:34 AM




MANILA, Philippines – Terrorists are allegedly planning to sow havoc in the city of San Juan and other parts of Metro Manila, intelligence reports obtained by ABS-CBN News revealed.

One document, which came from the government’s Office for Transportation Security (OTS), said a terror attack in the city could occur anytime between September to December.

“A terrorist group from Sulu is planning to deploy in San Juan, Metro Manila this coming September to conduct bombing operations against a still unidentified target,” the report warned.

"We are treating it as A-1. [But because] constant naman ang threat sa ating airports dahil soft target ‘yan. We have intensified all our security measures that we have at present. We also have intensified our patrolling and panelling in the complex,” said Senior Superintendent Arturo Mendez Evangelista, PNP-ASG deputy director for operations.

In a memorandum dated November 2, 2010, police officers were ordered ensure the security and safety of airport users, as well as protection of the gateway's vital facilities and infrastructure, in light of the recent discovery of explosives placed in packages passed on as cargo overseas.

Police, meanwhile, expressed fears that the Muslim community in San Juan could be used by the terrorists to set up a safehouse.

“Hindi naman clear kung San Juan ang target area pero it’s possible na holding area nila considering na may Muslim communities dito. Marami rin namang mga condominium dito, ‘yun ang tinitignan natin. In response to intelligence information, closely mino-monitor naman natin,” said police Superintendent Procopio Lipana Jr.

The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) allegedly tried to blow up the Ortigas flyover in 2002. The attempt was foiled after Abdulmukim Edris was arrested in Pasay City in the same year.

Two years later, the ASG and the Rajah Sulayman Movement (RSM) reportedly established a cell in San Juan just before the Valentine’s Day bombing in 2005, according to the intelligence report.

“Among the plans of the cell was to detonate about 500 kilos of ammonium nitrate in a van under the MRT railway in the Ortigas area,” it added.

The OTS, which is under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), said “there is a possibility that the terrorists could attempt anew to carry out a similar attack targeting a critical infrastructure around the area of San Juan.”

[mazingerZ]

Buti pa ang ibang bansa alam na titirahin tayo. PNP at AFP walang alam

[safeorigin]

ah... the fear mongering begins

I expect something else to happen when they "do" happen as a diversion

[Monseratto]

May sasabog na naman na septic tank...

[wowiesy]

Is our goverment really clueless about this? But be cautious, better be safe than sorry...Christmas season pa naman.

http://www.islandpacket.com/2010/11/...in-manila.html

I think it's possible... global na rin ang terrorismo.. if the contacts are all based overseas... there may be chatter on the lines (email, phone taps, etc.. ) na crosses our borders... i'm assuming our intelligence operatorives are only based in the country at wala tayong intelligence service na worldwide (aside from our embassies and attaches... )...

[vinj]

What i find irritating is that the government/military/PNP is asking for the terror calls to be downgraded.

Shouldn't they just be heightening our readiness, intelligence (?) and police/military visibility to counter this? Taena, mamaya pulis Luneta nanaman yung lalabas sa atin.

[Zeus]

Hindi kaya timing nila yan sa araw ng laban ni Pacquiao at Margarito? marami locals at foreigners sa malls, hotels, resto at bars?

[Monseratto]

Would anyone take our goverment seriously after the Quirino Grandstand incident?

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakin...-be-downgraded

RP calls for terror warnings to be downgraded
Agence France-Presse
First Posted 17:49:00 11/04/2010

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines on Thursday urged the United States and other allies to downgrade travel warnings about an imminent terrorist attack in Manila, saying it had not monitored any such threat.

[CVT]

Better be safe than sorry.

How about the Qantas(Australia) A380 incident in Singapore?....

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