PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III will convene the National Security Council (NSC)
Wednesday to discuss the capability of the country in the fight against terroristic attacks
despite the death of Osama bin Laden.
In an ambush interview Tuesday, the President said that immediately after the news broke
out confirming the death of the top international terrorist Monday, he issued a memorandum
directing all security concerned agencies and staff to convene and assess the threat of
possible retaliatory acts of Bin Laden’s supporters in the country.
Among the agencies required to brief the President in the security council meeting were the
top officials of the National Security Agency (NSA), National Intelligence Coordinating Agency
(NICA), the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Director General
of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Director of the National Bureau of Investigation
(NBI), Secretary of National Defense, Secretary of Interior and Local Government and the
Secretary of Justice.
Following the death of Bin Laden, the PNP has already increased its security patrols over the
diplomatic areas in Metro Manila and provinces to ensure that the areas of convergence are
all protected and enhanced.
Stressing that the death of Bin Laden “should not lull us into complacency,” the President has
called world leaders to continue to consistently and courageously raise its collective voice
against religious hatred, political intolerance, and terrorism of all kinds.
The Philippines joined the US-led coalition against international terrorism right after the
September 11, 2001 attacks in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. (PCOO/PIA)