Philippines to host anti-terrorism meet

The Philippine government has offered to host a regional anti-terrorism conference in Manila, with participation from countries among the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean), the United States, Australia, Japan and other nearby countries, a senior official said.

President Gloria Arroyo announced the plan when she convened the National Security Council (NSC) following the car bombing on Saturday in Bali, Indonesia, said NSC head Roilo Golez.

"We can discuss how we can combine our efforts in the fight against terrorism. The fight against terrorism is not a fight by a single country, but a collective effort by all the countries that are threatened by international terrorism.

"We took note of the need to recognise that there might be some threats in the region with respect to some international terrorist organisations," noted Golez.

He added that the government will await reports from Indonesia about the perpetrators of the bombing incident.

Meanwhile, Arroyo has also directed the health department to send a medical team to Bali.
Golez refused to give details.

He stated that Arroyo also discussed the bombing incident at the Philippine consulate in Manado, Indonesia, but he added: "We are not in the position to determine who are responsible for this."

The government received affirmation from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that it has no part in the bombing incidents in Indonesia.

This statement is important for the government because of earlier reports that the MILF, with the help of radical groups, was responsible for the bombing which almost killed a Philippine Ambassador in Indonesia in 1999.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople ordered all Philippine diplomatic posts worldwide to step up security measures amid fears that the attack will spill over to other countries.

Meanwhile, police chief Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. called for the deployment of more personnel to secure vital installations, which might be targets of international terrorism.

The government assigned local government levels to take the initiative in getting support from national agencies when there is an actual incident of terrorism. The village level will also be used to predict a terrorist threat, protect possible targets and curb terrorist activities, noted Ebdane.

The country's national intelligence coordinating agency (NICA) gave a briefing on terrorism that is threatening the south-east Asian region.

The armed forces, the police and the NICA asked for a higher budget so that they can respond accordingly to terrorist threats, said Golez.

Based on the report of former chief of staff Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu, the head of the Middle East preparedness team, the government has adopted a selective and voluntary relocation of affected overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in case Iraq is attacked.

The government has started to prepare the evacuation of 106 Filipinos, noted Cimatu.

He added that those who are in Kuwait will not be evacuated, but there will be relocation of OFWs in areas very close to the Iraq border.

OFWs are advised not to leave their places if they are in Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon and Syria.

"Those who wish to relocate to safer grounds may do so voluntarily. Our concern would be to help the OFWs in their travel requirements by providing exit visas, transportation and safety in transit," explained Cimatu. "Those who opt to stay will be getting advice from the government through their employers and their respective host countries."

About 65,000 of an estimated 1.3 million OFWS in the Middle East will be affected by a full-blown war in Iraq.

At the same time, Energy Secretary Vince Perez gave the assurance that there will be enough oil in the country and that the supply levels remain within between 55 to 65 days.

Arroyo has asked the energy department to monitor more closely the inventory levels of oil and refined products in the country.

The government will convene the NSC again in order to discuss possible responses to the U.S. initiative to wage war in Iraq.

"The Philippines is honouring the process in the United Nations and is prepared to extend security, humanitarian and political support to the United States (once the National Security Council gives its stand on the plan of the U.S.)," said the NSC head.