Terror v. Cebu (Philippines): 5 nations warn

AT LEAST five countries have warned its citizens against traveling to Cebu for fear of terrorist attacks planned during the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit next week.

“We advise against all travel to Cebu Province, as we believe that terrorists are in the final stages of planning attacks,” said the advisory the British Embassy released Wednesday.

Within hours, separate advisories followed from Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the United States.

All told their citizens to avoid travel to Cebu, even as Philippine security officials said they have not discovered any specific terror threats against the summit of the 10-member Asean, but that they could not discount them.

The Australian advisory urged “extreme caution and high levels of security awareness” for those attending meetings associated with the Asean.

“While security measures will be in place at conference venues, particular care should be taken to avoid locations known to be targeted by terrorists, such as places of worship, restaurants, shopping malls, hotels, hostels, guesthouses, bars, clubs, outdoor markets and transport and associated infrastructure,” read the advisory.

Low profile

The US Embassy warned US citizens living and working in Cebu “to reassess their personal security and to keep a low profile.”

Chief Supt. Silverio Alarcio Jr., who heads Task Force Cebu, down-played the advisories and said there was no specific threat from any terrorist group.

“Possibly this advisory is more of a general statement,” he said over radio dyLA, citing information from Interpol that there was no specific threat to Cebu.

French Interpol agents are expected to arrive tomorrow to help the authorities ensure terrorist groups cannot carry out any attack for the duration of the summit.

“Terrorism is a worldwide threat, we all know it’s a threat that constantly hovers everywhere, whether in New York, Paris or London itself,” said Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, when asked about the British advisory.

“We must face the fact that all major events are always attractive venues. That’s precisely why 5,000 police and other peacekeeping forces are in the local government units that are venues of the summit to ensure that delegates will be given adequate protection,” she said.

Safe

In his regular press conference, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he remains confident the island is “very, very safe.”

To help prepare the Special Weapons and Tactics teams of the cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu, Osmeña provided 6,000 rounds of M16 ammunitions yesterday for their warm-up exercises for the summit.

Leaders of the 10 Asean member-nations will also meet their counterparts from China, Japan and South Korea next week. The second East Asian Summit on Dec. 13 also groups Australia, New Zealand and India.

A confidential government threat assessment report, seen by The Associated Press, cited groups that could pose a threat to the summit, including Indonesian-based Jemaah Islamiyah and two Philippine groups, the Abu Sayyaf and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The report said intelligence agencies have not monitored any specific plots against the Asean events by al-Qaeda-linked groups, but added such possibilities were not farfetched.

Quiet

“We have received information, but these are not validated threats,” military spokesman Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro said.
Some 5,000 troops and police have been drafted in to provide security. But officials downplayed a threat to the summit, being hosted for the first time in Cebu.

“As far back as June, we received information of possible terrorist threats during the Asean summit, mainly the Abu Sayyaf and Raja Solaiman,” said Alarcio.

But Alarcio said there had been no recent information. “Our assets (informers) on the ground are telling us: no threat to the summit. This is a quiet region, we don’t have terror attacks. But we are on alert throughout Cebu.”