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| Southeast Asia |
| Abu Sayyaf planning Holy Week offensive |
| 2005-03-20 |
| Chief Arturo Lomibao said Friday there is indeed a plan by the terror group Abu Sayyaf to sow terror during the Holy Week by bombing Catholic churches and shopping centers in Metro Manila and other urban areas. But Lomibao assured that the police are on full alert and that strict security measures in public places are in place. Catholic churches however are taking precautions as the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has ordered the tightening of security in the places of worship. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Friday government security measures that are in place nationwide will thwart the Abu Sayyaf’s threats of attacks during the Holy Week. "I think the security agencies are doing a very, very good job of taking care of our security," Arroyo said in a media interaction in her visit to Lamitan, Basilan. "I do not want to micromanage when the agencies are doing very good jobs. So, I have no directives to them. They know what to do," she said. Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. revealed Friday that Baguio City is a target of terrorists. Catholic churches across the country will be packed with people who will do the traditional Visita Iglesia and attend Lenten rites starting Sunday. State Prosecutor Peter Medalle of the Department of Justice (DOJ), who has been handling cases against the terror group, earlier revealed that an informant told him about a plan by the Abu Sayyaf to conduct bombings in Metro Manila and other major cities nationwide. Medalle said the bombing missions had been planned long before the failed jailbreak and takeover by detained Abu Sayyaf leaders and members of the Metro Manila Rehabilitation Center (MMRC) in Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila. Twenty-three people, including three ranking Abu Sayyaf leaders and a policeman, were killed in the assault on the MMRC. The deaths of the Abu Sayyaf leaders reportedly hastened the timetable for the bombings, Medalle said. Lomibao said Catholic churches are not the only bombing targets of the Abu Sayyaf but also shopping malls. Lomibao said Gamal Baharan alias Boy Negro, who supplied the explosive used to bomb a passenger bus last February 14 that killed four people and wounded 105 others, had revealed that five Abu Sayyaf members were ordered to bomb shopping malls in Metro Manila, particularly in the dry goods section where fire can easily spread. Lomibao appealed to the public to remain calm but vigilant. Cartographic sketches of wanted Abu Sayyaf members will be posted in public areas, he added. Lomibao assured that there will be no persecution or unwarranted arrests of Muslims as the police crack down on suspected Abu Sayyaf members roaming the country. Catholic churches in Metro Manila have tightened security for the Holy Week to ensure that no untoward incident would take place. Monsignor Hernando Coronel, secretary-general and spokesman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said Catholic churches have beefed up security personnel and assigned additional staffers to check suspicious-looking people who may attempt to sow terror. He said in the Manila Cathedral alone, additional guards were employed to ensure the safety of parishioners. Aside from additional security personnel, the cathedral will only have one entry and one exit for the churchgoers to prevent any terrorists from carrying out their devious plan. Despite a threat to bomb churches, Coronel said it should not stop Catholics from attending Church activities on Holy Week. "Take proper precaution just to be on the safe side," he said adding that instead of worrying about threat, Catholics should focus on Jesus Christ’s passion, his death and resurrection. "Let us also pray for peace and reconciliation in the country," he added. Dagupan-Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz appealed for sobriety and peace among supporters of the killed Abu Sayyaf leaders. "My appeal is not only to the Abu Sayaff but to all those people who will play with the lives of others to think twice," Cruz said. He said causing chaos will only cause more damage to the country’s investment image. "If the lives of people will be wasted and properties are destroyed, the ones who will ultimately suffer will be us also," Cruz added. State Prosecutor Peter Medalle said he got his information on the Abu Sayyaf’s planned attacks during the standoff between police and ASG detainees at Camp Bagong Diwa early this week. Press secretary and presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said "there is no reason for the public to be alarmed" security measures are in place and law enforcers are continuously working with local government leaders down to the barangay level. "Having learned enough lessons from recent terror attacks, we are confident the terrorists will find it more difficult to break through the collective security shield. This protective shield can be strengthened through citizens’ vigilance and alertness," Bunye said. Meanwhile, Secretary Gonzalez revealed that "Baguio City has always been a target" by terrorists. "It has been raised during NSC meetings (National Security Council Meetings). I would not want to make it appear that the government is paranoid," Gonzalez said as he declined to give details on other possible areas to be attacked. Baguio is a popular summer destination for local and foreign tourists. It also hosts a number of offices, including that of the summer hall of the Supreme Court and the Presidential Mansion. Gonzalez declined to affirm a statement made by Medalle claiming that bombings may be carried out by the Abu Sayyaf on Catholic churches in Metro Manila during the observance of Holy Week. "I would call that information as very raw, not A-1." Gonzalez added. Meanwhile, Prosecutor Nestor Lazaro reiterated that the original plan of the detained Abu Sayyaf members had been to escape by overpowering guards during a court hearing set last Monday which was suddenly called off by the judge, an event he said which could have thrown off plans of the prisoners. Lazaro added that information made available to them suggests that members of the group regularly received money from outside the jail averaging P5,000 a week. "We suspect the money was used for the attack, he added. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |