Terror threat over; embassies reopen

The "credible and specific threat" has passed, in time for Christmas.

Australia, Canada and the European Union (EU) are reopening their embassies, shut since Nov. 28 after reported threats posed by Islamist terrorists.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople told the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines that the EU office reopened last Friday while the Australian Embassy was planning to reopen on Jan. 2.

The Canadian Embassy, in a statement yesterday, said it would reopen on Dec. 30, but that is Rizal Day, a national holiday. Effectively, it will reopen on Jan. 2 since Dec. 31 has also been declared as a holiday by Malacañang.

Ottawa has also lifted travel restrictions on Canadians to the Philippines, Canadian embassy counselor Heather Forton told Agence France Presse. Previously Ottawa had advised Canadians not to visit the country.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said in Sydney yesterday that the decision to reopen the embassy on Jan. 2 was based on an assessment that the specific threat against the mission had now passed.

"We have assurances from the Philippine government that it will implement a number of additional ongoing security measures to protect the embassy," he said in a statement.

Ople said the Australian embassy was planning to relocate to a safer area by March, adding that the Canadian embassy would also relocate. Both will remain within Makati City, he added.

The Australian and Canadian missions, both housed in separate office towers, closed their doors on Nov. 28 amid reports of a terror plot against specific embassies and foreign nationalities.

The EU office, which is located in the same building as the Australian embassy, also shut down as a security precaution.

However the closures angered the Philippine government which said that the alleged threat was exaggerated and that the shutdowns harmed the country’s image.

Earlier this month, Manila police intelligence chief Superintendent George Gaddi was sacked from his post for allegedly causing the closures by leaking information of the terrorist threat without first clearing it with higher authorities.

Australian Ambassador Ruth Pierce said in a statement that "we are satisfied that the specific and credible threat against the embassy has been discontinued."

She expressed thanks to the Philippine government, the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces for the additional security support at the chancery building.

Canadian Ambassador Robert Collette reiterated how much Canada values its relationship with the Philippines and expressed regret over any inconvenience the temporary closure caused to Filipinos and Canadians.

"Canada chose to close its Chancery because there was a very serious, specific and credible threat to the safety of the Canadian and Filipino staff working there," Collette said.

Western diplomatic missions across Southeast Asia have sporadically shut their doors since a wave of threats linked to Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network and its regional allies around the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks in the United States.

Fears of new attacks have intensified since the Oct. 12 Bali terrorist bombing which killed nearly 200 people and a spate of deadly bomb blasts in the Philippines in October, mostly in Zamboanga City.

Despite the disagreement over the attacks, Ople stressed the good bilateral defense relations, remarking that the Philippines sends about 100 military officers for training in Australia every year.

He said the two sides were still working on a proposal for joint anti-terrorism training but remarked that this would "certainly not (include) operations," of Australian troops in the Philippines.

Ople also said the Philippines had forged stronger alliances with its neighbors and Western nations in fighting terrorism, citing a recent trilateral agreement with Indonesia and Malaysia.

He warned that "some governments will have to pay a political cost," for supporting their neighbors in anti-terror operations.

"But these are costs that cannot be avoided," he said.

"In the end, the moderate Islamic countries will get around to the reality of a terrorist threat that has to be contained," Ople stressed.

Australians in the Philippines seeking emergency consular assistance during the holiday period can call 1-800-1612-0064 or 750-2850. Canadians should continue to call 867-0001. — AFP, Aurea Calica