THE Palace said Tuesday that even without any specific threat, the public must be vigilant against possible terrorist attacks.
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. made this statement during a radio interview on dzRH after the military played down the possibility of a terrorist threat, which seemed to contradict Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda’s call to the public to avoid malls and other public places where crowds gather.
“Maybe, we should put this in the right context. What Secretary Lacierda said [was that] even when there is no serious threat monitored… it is still better to be vigilant. Maybe, that’s what he meant, and that we need not worry,” Coloma said.
Coloma cited as an example the recently concluded Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Manila where order and security were maintained for the visiting world leaders.
“They were able to arrive and depart safely,” said Coloma. “And authorities were able to respond to all possible threats to security, and this was managed by our security task force. That’s why our countrymen have nothing to worry about,” Coloma said.
He acknowledged that threats exist, but added that the authorities are continuing to monitor these to avoid attacks such as the wave of bombings and shootings in Paris.
Like other countries, Coloma said, the Philippines maintains an immigration watch list.
Immigration stops foreigners who might constitute a threat from entering every day, “even if we do not hear about this,” Coloma said.
On Tuesday, an Immigration official said some 1,400 foreigners suspected to have links with terrorist groups were barred from entering the Philippines during the Apec meetings, but one of them, an Afghan, was able to enter but was held by the police until the summit was over.
The Afghan, identified as Ghulam Mustafa Moori, was deported Monday.
Moori, a confirmed sympathizer of the ISIS, was confined to his hotel in Makati until the Apec concluded, said Associate Commissioner Gilbert Repizo.
Repizo said that among the nationals barred from entry were nine Chinese suspected to be members of a terror group in China, 18 Malaysians with links to various terrorist groups.
Also barred were 53 Indonesians who reportedly joined ISIS in Syria and Iraq.
Repizo said the foreigners were barred after their names appeared on the bureau’s Mobile Interpol Network Device, which was installed at the airport.
On Monday, an intelligence source said the Palace advice to stay away from crowded places was a sign of an increased security threat.
The same source said at least two known jihadists were in Metro Manila to recruit for the terrorist Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
The military, however, played down the threat, saying they did not receive any information that terrorist groups, including ISIS, were planning to launch attacks in the country.
The United States issued a worldwide travel alert on Monday warning American citizens of “increased terrorist threats” in the wake of the Paris attacks.
A massive manhunt is underway in France and Belgium for Belgian-born Salah Abdeslam, suspected of playing a role in the coordinated shooting and suicide bombings of Nov. 13 claimed by the Islamic State group.
The United States has been on heightened alert in the wake of the attacks, which killed 130 people.
“Current information suggests that ISIL (aka Daesh), Al Qaeda, Boko Haram and other terrorist groups continue to plan terrorist attacks in multiple regions,” said a State Department travel advisory.
“US citizens should exercise vigilance when in public places or using transportation,” it said, advising Americans to avoid large crowds or crowded places and to “exercise particular caution during the holiday season.”
Citing recent attacks in Denmark, France, Mali, Nigeria and Turkey, it also noted the threat of “lone wolf” attacks by unaffiliated persons inspired by terror groups.
The alert, which expires Feb. 24, warned that “the likelihood of terror attacks will continue as members of ISIL/Daesh return from Syria and Iraq.”
It was referring to foreign fighters who return home after having fought alongside IS extremists.
“Extremists have targeted large sporting events, theaters, open markets and aviation services,” the alert added.
The State Department often issues individual country travel alerts, but this notice was a rare “worldwide travel alert” that comes in the wake of a series of attacks.
New “attacks may employ a wide variety of tactics, using conventional and non-conventional weapons and targeting both official and private interests,” it said. With AFP