Arroyo disputes US terror risk tag

President Arroyo has taken exception to the Philippines’ inclusion in a US Defense Department list of "high-risk" countries, or where there is a big possibility of a terrorist attack.

"The probability of terrorist attacks is spread all over and does not help putting countries like the Philippines in a list of potential targets as if others are free from this threat," Mrs. Arroyo said in a statement yesterday.

"Quiet international cooperation will work much better than this labeling exercise," the President said.

A US military official told reporters Monday that US troops participating in a two-week joint training exercises with Philippine forces in Pampanga and Nueva Ecija provinces have been warned not to venture outside the exercise areas to avoid possible terrorist attacks.

The annual exercises, dubbed "Talon Vision," began Monday.

US military spokesman Capt. Burrel Parmer explained that the advisory has been in effect since previous joint exercises and that it did not mean that a threat was imminent, rather the terrorism threat existed worldwide.

US troops were warned against venturing outside the exercise areas for fear of possible terrorist attacks in the past.

Mrs. Arroyo said the Philippines was working closely with the United States in the global campaign on terrorism.

"We acknowledge that continuing threat of terrorism in our shores but we deserve full recognition for the effective measures we have deployed," Mrs. Arroyo said.

"We have directed counter-terrorist moves and we have reduced the capability of terrorists to put up clandestine bases from which to launch attacks."

Mrs. Arroyo cited the recent killing of convicted Indonesian Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi and the arrest of Taufek Refke, also an Indonesian.

Al-Ghozi was an alleged bomb specialist of regional Islamic militant group Jemaah Islamiyah, while Refke was the group’s No. 2 man in the Philippines.

The Philippines and the United States have worked together in fighting both local and foreign Muslim extremists allegedly linked to such groups as Jemaah Islamiyah and the al-Qaeda terrorist network.

During his brief visit to Manila last Oct. 18, US President George W. Bush praised the Philippines’ efforts to combat terrorism and pledged to help its long-time ally.

Washington considers the Abu Sayyaf, the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, as terrorist organizations.

The Abu Sayyaf Islamic kidnap gang is notorious for abducting foreigners for ransom while the Communist Party of the Philippines has been waging insurgency for over 30 years.