Anti-terror command center activated

MANILA, Philippines – President Arroyo has activated a 24-hour command center of the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) even as officials maintain that Metro Manila is in no immediate danger of being attacked by extremists.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who chairs the ATC, has been designated the official spokesperson on the current national security situation.

The appointment of a spokesman is aimed at reducing confusion arising from conflicting statements on the recent spate of bombings in Mindanao.

Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez said the command center is manned around the clock by representatives from various security agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, the National Anti-Terrorism Action Group, the Department of National Defense and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.

“The activation of (the center) would mean that anything is possible given the scenario in Mindanao now,” Golez told a news briefing. “The authorities would want to make sure that everyone is safe.”

“I think that is the bottomline, that is the message we want to convey to the public – that we want to give our citizens the peace of mind they need,” he added.

He said the bombings could be part of the agenda of the mainstream Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in response to the military and the police counterinsurgency operations or they could be the handiwork of what the MILF claims to be a “breakaway group.”

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said that during a command conference presided over by Mrs. Arroyo, it was agreed that “all the authoritative pronouncements on a situation like this should come from Executive Secretary Ermita and from no one else in order to avoid confusion and false messages.”

“In situations like this, it is best that any information for the public must be clear and sober so as not to create more confusion,” Remonde said.

The Palace also sought to allay fears of a spillover of the bombings in Mindanao to the nation’s capital.

Remonde clarified that the police and military only went on heightened alert in Metro Manila, and not red alert as reported.

The difference between the two alerts is in the number of troops deployed, he said.

Remonde appealed to the public not to be swayed by false information and to verify this with proper authorities.

Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor, also of the ATC, said there is no cause for panic despite the latest violence but said the people should remain vigilant.

“There’s no confirmed report yet (of threats), but we have to be prepared. There is need to heighten security in Metro Manila because when it comes to threat, we just can’t take everything for granted,” Blancaflor told reporters.

He also rebuffed claims that the government was behind the bombings supposedly to lay the groundwork for the President’s declaration of a state of emergency.

“Let us not feed the frenzy,” Blancaflor said.

Philstar