MANILA, Philippines -- An assassination plot against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo allegedly by the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and Abu Sayyaf was revealed Thursday by her security group, which it said, was the reason why the President cancelled her trip to Baguio City over the weekend.

Brigadier General Romeo Prestoza, head of the Presidential Security Group, told a press conference that the cancellation of another out of town trip was being studied.

Prestoza also said the threat, discovered last week, also included attacks on embassies.

The reported JI plot is different from a standing plan by communist rebels to kill the President. It is being verified by the Philippine National Police (PNP), Prestoza told reporters at the Palace.

"There are reports, and according to the reports, the President is among the targets, but she is not the only target," Prestoza said, "I understand there are also embassies."

"The President has not been briefed extensively on this [JI] threat, but the other threat, from the left, we have provided enough briefing. She knows it," he said.

Asked how serious the fresh threat was, Presotza said: "Threat is always a serious thing, assassination attempt always serious."

While there is no augmentation on the President's security detail, Prestoza said the PSG would intensify its intelligence gathering.

"It's still normal. What matters is the focus and capability of our men to secure the President," Prestoza said, when asked if Arroyo's close-in security would be increased.

The twin threats from the JI and the communist New People's Army's
Special Operations Group (SOG) or hit squad has forced the cancellation of Arroyo's appearance at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) homecoming in Baguio City on Saturday.

"Meron tayong malaking security concern [We have a big security
concern]. I don't need to elaborate now because the investigation of the
whole intelligence community is ongoing. There really is a threat,"
Prestoza said.

"The SOG has been there in Baguio City," he said.

Pressed by reporters, Prestoza said the assassination plot would not necessarily be carried out at the PMA rites on Saturday.

"When you talk of a plot, it is not necessarily confined to one place. They [assassins] are very mobile and have the capability," he said.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Avelino Razon Jr. said they were still verifying the reported assassination plot but had nevertheless intensified their intelligence gathering and taken precautionary measures to thwart any attempt on the President’s life.

"We have intensified our intelligence gathering and [the] coordination with different intelligence agencies is being done by the PNP and the directorate for intelligence," Razon said in a phone interview.

Razon said they recovered a document in Arabic that had referred to the President.

"Ang word is may president at ito ay ipinasa namin sa PSG … this formed the basis na huwag na umakyat presidente sa Baguio [The word is that there was a reference to the President and this we passed to the PSG… this became the basis of our recommendation for the President not to go to Baguio]," said Razon.

Razon said the document was turned over by a security guard to the police.

"Nakita ng security guard…may nakaiwan [The security guard saw the document … somebody left it]," said Razon, refusing to elaborate.

Armed forces chief General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said the plot "had become the basis of our action for putting the Armed Forces of the Philippines in full state of preparedness."

Razon echoed this, saying reports of the assassination plot were not meant to divert public attention from the scandal triggered by allegations of corruption surrounding the scrapped national broadband network deal.

Earlier on Thursday, Razon said police were on high alert ahead of the protest actions.

Also on Thursday, Army spokesman Captain Carlo Ferrer said they had separately received intelligence reports that elements from the NPA might infiltrate the ranks of protesters Friday and instigate violence.

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which has been waging a Maoist rebellion since 1969.

Arroyo's critics have been holding daily protests around Manila calling on her to resign over fresh claims that her husband and a political ally tried to get millions of dollars in kickbacks from a telecoms agreement with a Chinese firm.

The $329-million deal with China's ZTE Corp. has since been cancelled by Arroyo.

Some business groups have warned that the scandal could plunge the country into a new round of political instability and dampen investor confidence.

Leaders of the influential Roman Catholic Church, business leaders and even lawyers' groups have expressed support for the protest planned in the Makati business district.

Malacañang has called for calm amid the turmoil and challenged Arroyo's opponents to file charges in court.

On Thursday, US envoy to Manila Kristie Kenney said any protest should be put in the "framework of the constitution and the rule of law."

However, she said the "right to public protest to express views and opinions is fundamental to all of us.

"It's important for government and for the private sectors to see that," Kenney said.