Summit terror alert still on
January 6, 2007 | 12:00am
The United Kingdom, Canada and Australia have not yet recalled their advisories for their citizens to avoid travel to Mindanao and Cebu, where the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and East Asia summits will be held on Jan. 10-15.
The three countries fear that terrorist threats against foreigners in the Philippines remain high.
Despite the travel advisories, Director Alejandro Lapinid, Philippine National Police intelligence chief, said there is no terrorist threat that could disrupt the ASEAN summit in Cebu.
"So far, we have not monitored any serious threat that could disrupt the holding of two (summits)," he said.
In its advisory, the UK said it continues to receive reports that terrorist groups are planning more attacks in Mindanao and Cebu.
"The high threat from terrorism remains throughout the Philippines," read the UK travel advisory.
"We continue to receive reports that terrorist groups are planning further attacks and believe that they have the capacity and the intent to carry out attacks at any time and anywhere in the country."
British nationals were warned that these terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate and against civilian targets in public places, including those frequented by foreigners.
"We advise against all travel to Mindanao and Cebu province," read the advisory. "We believe that terrorists are in the final stages of planning attacks."
Canada advised its citizens against all travel to Cebu because of renewed threats of terrorism in the province.
"Following the announcement that the previously postponed ASEAN will now be held in Cebu in January, there is a renewed threat of terrorism," read the Canadian advisory.
"Credible information suggests terrorists are in the final stages of planning attacks."
Canada warned its citizens in Cebu to exercise increased awareness at all times and avoid public places like malls, places of worship and restaurants, as much as possible.
"Continuing reports suggest that there is an ongoing terrorist threat to Westerners and Western interests in the Philippines," read the advisory.
"Philippine authorities have warned that there may be bomb attacks in Manila and other key cities. Security has been increased in Manila and other cities."
Canadians in the Philippines should exercise extreme caution and security awareness, especially in commercial and public establishments, in tourist areas frequented by foreigners, and on public transportation, the advisory added.
"Of course, the PNP will not let its guard down, as all PNP personnel are to remain vigilant and alert," Lapinid stressed.
Chief Superintendent Romeo Ricardo, PNP intelligence group director, said police intelligence agents are gathering information to thwart any possible terrorist attack.
"We have very close, intensified and close monitoring of both events," he said.
Earlier, Chief Superintendent Luisito Palmera, PNP Directorate for Operations deputy chief, said police have improved security preparations for the ASEAN Summit in Cebu.
"We are better prepared, we made some internal adjustment on security plans for VIPs," he said.
The 18 scheduled side meetings during the summit have been cut to 14, he added.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Calderon said 6,000 policemen will be deployed to ensure the safety of the delegates and the peaceful and orderly proceedings of the summit.
The Joint Intelligence Coordinating Council is monitoring the security situation and a daily security assessment is being conducted, he added.
Less than a week before the ASEAN summit, two car companies had to conduct new orientation sessions for police personnel assigned to drive vehicles for delegates.
Honda and BMW had to train 77 police personnel yesterday to replace those from Luzon that were not allowed to return to Cebu.
Honda and BMW have lent cars to the government for the transportation of summit delegates.
Forty-one personnel have been assigned to drive the Honda Accord units, while 74 personnel have been assigned to drive the BMW units.
Arturo Briones of Honda’s Marketing-Sales Department said the National Organizing Committee have replaced all the 41 police personnel that they have trained before the original schedule of the summit last month.
Of the 74 personnel assigned to drive the BMW units, the NOC only replaced 36.
The police personnel underwent orientation and went test-driving yesterday at the ASEAN Summit Cebu Task Force headquarters just across the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City.
The task force headquarters also shelters the vehicles to be used by the spouses of the heads of states and the official patrol cars of the security personnel.
The police originally assigned to Honda came from Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon. The new drivers come from Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao.
Briones said the orientation was necessary for the drivers to know the salient features of the Honda Accord.
They would also want to ensure that the cars would be handled well because the vehicles already have waiting owners, he added.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez ordered yesterday a manhunt for a 51-year-old American fugitive who tried to bomb the Vietnamese embassy in Manila in 2001.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was ordered to arrest Vinh Nguyen Tan, alias Vo Van Duc –who is of Vietnamese origin –
before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and East Asia summits in Cebu on Jan. 10-15.
"In the interest of service and pursuant to existing laws, rules and regulations, you are hereby ordered to ascertain the whereabouts, and if possible, cause the arrest of fugitive and international terrorist Vihn Nguyen Tan," Gonzalez said in his directive to NBI Director Nestor Mantaring.
Gonzalez said the Vietnam-born Tan, the alleged leader of the Free Vietnam Revolutionary Group, was arrested in Pasig in 2001 while allegedly assembling a bomb for use in attacking the Vietnamese embassy.
"It is widely believed that (Tan) and his group were planning to bomb the Vietnamese embassy in Manila at the time of their arrest," he said.
Tan was convicted and sentenced to four years and two months to six years imprisonment by the Pasig Regional Trial Court in 2004, he added.
Gonzalez said immigration officials cannot state with clarity if Tan had really left the country.
"In view of the uncertainty as to his whereabouts, it may be assumed that he has not left the Philippines and therefore poses a threat to the forthcoming ASEAN summit," he said.
Gonzalez said Tan is also wanted in Thailand for a failed bombing of the Vietnamese embassy in Bangkok on June 19, 2001.
"(Tan) is also sought for his alleged involvement in the Sept. 2, 2000 arson attack on the Vietnamese embassy in London," he said.
"Police authorities in Thailand said Duc was allegedly involved in planting two bombs in the Vietnamese embassy. Foregoing considered, it will be in the best interest of the State for the Bureau to exert all efforts to ascertain the whereabouts of (Tan) and cause his immediate arrest."
Reports said in 2005, corrupt immigration officials illegally freed Tan and gave him a Philippine passport so he could evade his four-year sentence.
Efforts to locate him since have been futile, and three immigration officials are now being investigated for the fiasco.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will not attend the ASEAN summit in Cebu, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.
Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for ASEAN Affairs Luis Cruz said Ban is unavailable during the summit because he has just assumed his post this week.
"He’ll not be available in Cebu," he said.
Cruz said Ban’s video message will not also be presented at the summit.
"We invited him personally," he said. "While he welcomed the opportunity, that would not be possible because he’s new in the job. It’s his first week and he’ll have to attend to a lot of things."
Ban of South Korea, became secretary-general last Jan. 1 and his first term will expire on Dec. 3, 2011. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Joeberth Ocao, Ronilo Ladrido Pamonag, Jose Rodel Clapano, Evelyn Macairan, AFP
The three countries fear that terrorist threats against foreigners in the Philippines remain high.
Despite the travel advisories, Director Alejandro Lapinid, Philippine National Police intelligence chief, said there is no terrorist threat that could disrupt the ASEAN summit in Cebu.
"So far, we have not monitored any serious threat that could disrupt the holding of two (summits)," he said.
In its advisory, the UK said it continues to receive reports that terrorist groups are planning more attacks in Mindanao and Cebu.
"The high threat from terrorism remains throughout the Philippines," read the UK travel advisory.
"We continue to receive reports that terrorist groups are planning further attacks and believe that they have the capacity and the intent to carry out attacks at any time and anywhere in the country."
British nationals were warned that these terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate and against civilian targets in public places, including those frequented by foreigners.
"We advise against all travel to Mindanao and Cebu province," read the advisory. "We believe that terrorists are in the final stages of planning attacks."
Canada advised its citizens against all travel to Cebu because of renewed threats of terrorism in the province.
"Following the announcement that the previously postponed ASEAN will now be held in Cebu in January, there is a renewed threat of terrorism," read the Canadian advisory.
"Credible information suggests terrorists are in the final stages of planning attacks."
Canada warned its citizens in Cebu to exercise increased awareness at all times and avoid public places like malls, places of worship and restaurants, as much as possible.
"Continuing reports suggest that there is an ongoing terrorist threat to Westerners and Western interests in the Philippines," read the advisory.
"Philippine authorities have warned that there may be bomb attacks in Manila and other key cities. Security has been increased in Manila and other cities."
Canadians in the Philippines should exercise extreme caution and security awareness, especially in commercial and public establishments, in tourist areas frequented by foreigners, and on public transportation, the advisory added.
"Of course, the PNP will not let its guard down, as all PNP personnel are to remain vigilant and alert," Lapinid stressed.
Chief Superintendent Romeo Ricardo, PNP intelligence group director, said police intelligence agents are gathering information to thwart any possible terrorist attack.
"We have very close, intensified and close monitoring of both events," he said.
Earlier, Chief Superintendent Luisito Palmera, PNP Directorate for Operations deputy chief, said police have improved security preparations for the ASEAN Summit in Cebu.
"We are better prepared, we made some internal adjustment on security plans for VIPs," he said.
The 18 scheduled side meetings during the summit have been cut to 14, he added.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Calderon said 6,000 policemen will be deployed to ensure the safety of the delegates and the peaceful and orderly proceedings of the summit.
The Joint Intelligence Coordinating Council is monitoring the security situation and a daily security assessment is being conducted, he added.
Honda and BMW had to train 77 police personnel yesterday to replace those from Luzon that were not allowed to return to Cebu.
Honda and BMW have lent cars to the government for the transportation of summit delegates.
Forty-one personnel have been assigned to drive the Honda Accord units, while 74 personnel have been assigned to drive the BMW units.
Arturo Briones of Honda’s Marketing-Sales Department said the National Organizing Committee have replaced all the 41 police personnel that they have trained before the original schedule of the summit last month.
Of the 74 personnel assigned to drive the BMW units, the NOC only replaced 36.
The police personnel underwent orientation and went test-driving yesterday at the ASEAN Summit Cebu Task Force headquarters just across the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City.
The task force headquarters also shelters the vehicles to be used by the spouses of the heads of states and the official patrol cars of the security personnel.
The police originally assigned to Honda came from Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon. The new drivers come from Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao.
Briones said the orientation was necessary for the drivers to know the salient features of the Honda Accord.
They would also want to ensure that the cars would be handled well because the vehicles already have waiting owners, he added.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was ordered to arrest Vinh Nguyen Tan, alias Vo Van Duc –who is of Vietnamese origin –
before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and East Asia summits in Cebu on Jan. 10-15.
"In the interest of service and pursuant to existing laws, rules and regulations, you are hereby ordered to ascertain the whereabouts, and if possible, cause the arrest of fugitive and international terrorist Vihn Nguyen Tan," Gonzalez said in his directive to NBI Director Nestor Mantaring.
Gonzalez said the Vietnam-born Tan, the alleged leader of the Free Vietnam Revolutionary Group, was arrested in Pasig in 2001 while allegedly assembling a bomb for use in attacking the Vietnamese embassy.
"It is widely believed that (Tan) and his group were planning to bomb the Vietnamese embassy in Manila at the time of their arrest," he said.
Tan was convicted and sentenced to four years and two months to six years imprisonment by the Pasig Regional Trial Court in 2004, he added.
Gonzalez said immigration officials cannot state with clarity if Tan had really left the country.
"In view of the uncertainty as to his whereabouts, it may be assumed that he has not left the Philippines and therefore poses a threat to the forthcoming ASEAN summit," he said.
Gonzalez said Tan is also wanted in Thailand for a failed bombing of the Vietnamese embassy in Bangkok on June 19, 2001.
"(Tan) is also sought for his alleged involvement in the Sept. 2, 2000 arson attack on the Vietnamese embassy in London," he said.
"Police authorities in Thailand said Duc was allegedly involved in planting two bombs in the Vietnamese embassy. Foregoing considered, it will be in the best interest of the State for the Bureau to exert all efforts to ascertain the whereabouts of (Tan) and cause his immediate arrest."
Reports said in 2005, corrupt immigration officials illegally freed Tan and gave him a Philippine passport so he could evade his four-year sentence.
Efforts to locate him since have been futile, and three immigration officials are now being investigated for the fiasco.
Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for ASEAN Affairs Luis Cruz said Ban is unavailable during the summit because he has just assumed his post this week.
"He’ll not be available in Cebu," he said.
Cruz said Ban’s video message will not also be presented at the summit.
"We invited him personally," he said. "While he welcomed the opportunity, that would not be possible because he’s new in the job. It’s his first week and he’ll have to attend to a lot of things."
Ban of South Korea, became secretary-general last Jan. 1 and his first term will expire on Dec. 3, 2011. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Joeberth Ocao, Ronilo Ladrido Pamonag, Jose Rodel Clapano, Evelyn Macairan, AFP
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