Aquino orders Palace security cluster to meet Wednesday

MANILA, Philippines—The security cluster of Malacañang is scheduled to meet Wednesday to assess security threats in the country following the death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

President Benigno Aquino III said Tuesday that he had directed national security, intelligence, police, defense, interior and justice officials to convene and evaluate the threats.

Expected to attend the meeting are National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Oban, Police Director General Raul Bacalzo, National Bureau Investigation Director Magtanggol Gatdula, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

“They are preparing their various briefs. They will be meeting (Wednesday) at 9 a.m.,” Mr. Aquino told reporters after leading a mass oath-taking of new officials in Malacañang.

The President said he would be getting the “official” report of the security cluster soon but added that at this time there was “no specific” threat against the country.

Threat assessment

Mr. Aquino’s directive for a threat assessment in the country came a day after Bin Laden was killed by US forces in Pakistan where he had been hiding.

Bin Laden’s death has prompted the Aquino administration to step up security measures in the country.

The Abu Sayyaf, a terrorist group in the country, is known to have links with al-Qaida and the regional terrorist network Jemaah Islamiyah.

Defense and military officials said the Philippines was not a priority target of al-Qaida to avenge its leader’s death.

But officials, nevertheless, called for increased public vigilance.

“We are a low priority (target) except that we are host to the US embassy and US nationals here,” Defense Undersecretary Eduardo Batac told reporters.

The Armed Forces vice chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu, said al-Qaida was expected to go after the United States and European nations.

“But of course even if we are a low priority, the mere fact that we are on al-Qaida’s list we should remain vigilant,” Mapagu said.

Two members of the House of Representatives also downplayed the possibility of a retaliatory action against the Philippines.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares said he believed that Bin Laden had no direct contact whatsoever with the Abu Sayyaf.

Focus on US

Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, a former AFP chief of staff, shared the same view. “If ever there is (a retaliatory action), the focus would be the United States and those countries actively involved in the global war against terror,” he said.

Batac said the Abu Sayyaf had been largely “isolated” in Mindanao. Official estimates placed at 300 the number of active Abu Sayyaf members.

He said the spate of kidnapping and extortion activities by suspected Abu Sayyaf members was an indication that they were in dire straits.

“Such activities are for their survival, not operational needs. They have to produce money to survive. There is less and less support from the local populace,” Batac said.

He said the objective was to finish off the Abu Sayyaf or reduce it to a minimal threat by 2014 or 2015 when the military plans to shift from internal security to external security operations.

Best time to take out Abu

Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz Jr. said “now is the best time” to eliminate the Abu Sayyaf.

“We call on our Muslim brothers to join us in our fight against terrorism. We know that Islam does not tolerate terrorism. It’s the bane of our society,” said Cruz, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police.

“This is our best chance,” he said.

Cruz said the entire 135,000-strong police force was placed on full alert on Monday shortly after US President Barack Obama announced that American forces had killed Bin Laden. With a report from Cynthia D. Balana