Congressman Antonio Cuenco has called for beefed up security for the country's water supplies so that they cannot be subjected to poison attacks from local extremists such as the Abu Sayyaf Group.

The country's solidarity with the U.S. in its anti-terrorism stance against Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan will make the country's water supply vulnerable to biological warfare, said Cuenco.

The Armed Forces and the National Police must watch closely not only vital installations but local water sources as well.

Cuenco added that the AFP and the PNP keep a tight watch on oil depots, government offices and commercial areas.

"Authorities should not dismiss as mere bluff the threats by the Abu Sayyaf to poison the water supplies in Mindanao. Nobody knows what goes on in the minds of these extremists, especially now that the anti-global terrorism campaign is fast gaining ground. So our government cannot afford to be caught off guard," Cuenco noted.

"The government cannot take chances, particularly now that the terrorists are feeling the heat as a result of the global campaign against terrorism," Cuenco pointed out.

The Abu Sayyaf Group admitted it has the capability to poison the water supplies in Mindanao.

Earlier, certain Abu Sayyaf members came on television claiming they have started maintaining a presence in Manila from their lair in southern Philippines.

Health authorities should launch a massive information campaign on hazardous biological and chemical materials that may be used by terrorist groups as weapons of war, said Senator Robert Jaworski, chairperson of the committee on environment.

"The government should use every available avenue to give the people a correct understanding of this subject," noted Jaworski.

Alarm was raised about biochemical attacks after American Robert Stevens, a photo editor of a Florida-based media company, died of anthrax after reportedly contracting the deadly disease from his contaminated computer keyboard.

"We should not take these stories lightly despite statements from U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney that there is no direct link between the rash of anthrax cases and Osama bin Laden," added Jaworksi.