Ricciardone: Let’s work for a world free of terror

US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone urged Filipinos to honor the 3,000 victims of Sept. 11 "by working together to create a world in which such acts of violence, hate and terror have no place" as the Philippines joined the world yesterday in commemorating the first anniversary of the attacks.

"Our world was impoverished not only by the loss of these good people, but also by the terrorists’ blow to human trust across national borders, faiths and cultures," Ricciardone said in a one-page statement.

"On behalf of President Bush and the American people, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Republic of the Philippines and to the Filipino people for your solidarity and your support in our common cause," the statement said.

The attacks, he said, struck "at the heart of our common values of democracy, freedom, interfaith tolerance, love of peace and the very value of human life itself."

"But we also witnessed something uplifting on Sept. 11 and afterwards – the heroism of those who saw strangers in need, and who risked, and too often, gave their lives in order to save others," Ricciardone said.

"We have experienced the determination of free people across the globe and of every faith and race to defeat those who sow hate and fear and ignorance among the family of humankind. We have witnessed, too, the international upsurge of resolve to make this a more peaceful, tolerant and free world for all," he said.

The US Embassy has scheduled a memorial concert by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Scores of crack Special Action Force police officers armed with high-powered assault rifles guarded the US Embassy to thwart possible attacks to mark the Sept. 11 anniversary.

"As expected, everything was peaceful and under control," said Chief Superintendent Roberto Delfin, chief of the national police force’s intelligence arm.

A Humvee military jeep mounted with an M-60 machinegun was parked outside the gates of the embassy, as sympathizers streamed in to offer prayers and wreaths for the victims.

Pro-American demonstrators marched in the rain to show support for the US-led global war on terror while anti-war protesters rallied to express sympathy for victims of last year’s attacks.

Police said they deployed enough personnel to head off any confrontations.

About 100 members of the pro-US Discovery Crusade Philippines, many in camouflage gear, carried US and Philippine flags and a large banner saying "Fight terrorism, Support Strong Republic" as they marched to the embassy.

The marchers laid a wreath of flowers with a poster saying "Sept. 11, never again" in front of the embassy gates as a man and a woman, both in combat uniform, snapped a salute. Behind them two men held up a Philippine flag and a third a US flag.