MANILA, Philippines – Metro Manila has remained as a “support base” and a major target for terror groups, but communist rebels have continued to pose the most serious security threat to the metropolis, according to the outgoing chief of the military’s National Capital Region command.
“The terrorists have continued to use NCR as a transient area and support base to strengthen links with other terror groups. NCR, likewise, is a logical target for bombings and other terror attacks for obvious impact effect and media mileage,” Maj. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero of the National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM) said in his after tour of duty report.
In his report, Tabaquero said Metro Manila is still the most prized terror target, being the country’s center of power and commerce.
Tabaquero’s new assignment is the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) based in Panacan, Davao City.
Aside from being an anti-coup force, NCRCOM was created in 2003 to secure the metropolis from possible attacks from communist guerrillas, secessionist rebels and terror groups like the Abu Sayyaf.
Tabaquero said other terrorist groups operating in Metro Manila are the Rajah Solaiman Group (RSM), the Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiyah and the Special Operations Group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Tabaquero also said there is no letup in their campaign against New People’s Army rebels passing themselves of as ordinary citizens in Metro Manila.
“The communists, through the MMRPC (Metro Manila Regional Party Committee), is considered to be the primary and most active threat in the whole of NCR,” Tabaquero reported.