PNP building up anti-bio terror capability

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has started building up its capability to thwart terror attacks using biological weapons.

"We are building up our capability even if this is relatively a new threat to the security and safety of the people," PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao said.

He stressed that at present, there is no such threat in the Philippines.

"While the threat of bio-terrorism is not going to concern the country in the near future, what we are doing now is trying to determine possible scenarios which could occur in the event that there are threat in the bio-terrorism," Lomibao said.

He cited anthrax attack in the US and the serin gas attack at the Tokyo subway that killed 12 persons. "Before this hits us, we should be prepared."

The PNP chief they have to interact with other countries to learn from their experience.

Lomibao just arrived from Singapore, where he attended a three-day conference on bio-terrorism and other forms of terror attacks. The conference was attended by representatives from 20 countries.

The PNP chief said the threat of bio-terrorism was discussed as well as the action that should be taken based on recommendations.

In case of a bio-terror attack, the lead agency would be the National Disaster Coordinating Council, led by the defense secretary. The regional directors of the PNP would be the ones in charge of the Regional Coordinating Council.

Philippine Center for Transnational Crimes (PCTC) chief Rolando Garcia also attended the Singapore meet.

The PNP and PCTC will soon submit a report to President Arroyo.