Police hold summit on anti-terrorism

Top police officials met at Camp Crame in Quezon City yesterday to map out anti-terrorism strategies following intelligence reports that Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network would launch terror attacks in the country after Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting.

Director Virtus Gil, Philippine National Police chief of directorial staff, said peace and order would be enhanced if Marines are redeployed in Metro Manila.

"Everything depends on the prevailing situation," he said.

Ramadan ends the first week of December with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, which has been declared a national holiday by President Arroyo.

Gil said police operations chiefs agreed during the meeting to deploy policemen in malls, hotels and other public places during the holidays to thwart any threat from terrorists and communist rebels.

"We must be vigilant and our targets are the communist rebels and terrorists, especially the Abu Sayyaf," he said. "We have discovered that they have threatened to bomb certain facilities, installations, commercial centers and malls."

Gil said police operations chiefs were told to order their men in the field to adopt a "pro-active" stance against communist rebels.

"Instead of waiting for the rebels to attack a police outpost, our policemen in the field were under instructions to seek the rebels," he said. – With AFP