by magnolia_eic | May 3, 2011 | Headlines, National News
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)
by magnolia_eic | Jan 18, 2011 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
“THE deadline has passed but we are not letting our guards down,” Col. Romeo Brawner told the Provincial Peace and Order Council during a meeting at the Bohol Tropics Thursday January 13.
“We are fortunate that we have surpassed the deadline set by Abu to kidnap foreigners,” Brawner said during the recent assessment of the peace and security situation in Bohol.
“We will not let our guards down, we will maintain security not only in Panglao but the whole of Bohol as well, our boats will remain in the area and our focus will remain in place,” he added.
Governor Edgar Chatto also echoed Brawner pronouncements saying “The most critical moments are when we believe the danger has passed.”
Brawner, who leads the army Special Forces Battalion cited the intelligence report that said a band of Abu Sayaff bandits were heading to Bohol on a double-engine speedboat Monday January 10 to kidnap two foreign tourists.
Brawner also confirmed that the same intelligence report which said that the deadline for the operation was within January 10-11.
“Bohol was indeed a target for kidnapping by Abusayyaf, our Manila intelligence has confirmed,” Brawner shared.
Immediately after receiving the intelligence report, which was validated and was said to have come from a reliable agent in Zamboanga, police and military authorities in Bohol rolled into motion security operations and crisis management planning to get the most immediate deterrent assets in the general area where the hit was supposed to happen.
PSSupt Constantino Barot also immediately placed Bohol under a heightened security alert even as he directed the deployment of additional police troops, augmented police stations located within Panglao island and neighboring tourist islands of Balicasag and Pamilacan.
The Philippine Navy also sent a patrol boat while the Army Special Forces also deployed their sea asset to beef up security operations in the seas.
Barot also bared that the Philippine Air Force has committed an attack and a utility chopper for the operations of the area south of Bohol.
On this, Governor Edgar Chatto stressed that “Our preparedness would never be substituted by anything else.”
We should always have the capability to respond not only to the present, but future dangers and threats, Chatto told PPOC members. (racPIABohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jan 7, 2011 | Headlines, National News
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Thursday urged the military to suspend offensive
operations to give way to relief and rescue work.
OCD administrator and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council executive
director Benito Ramos in a radio interview said there should be peace in areas where rescue
and relief work for those affected by the floods and landslides are needed.
Ramos’ call came a day after the Communist Party of the Philippines said New People’s
Army fighters have been mobilized to help in disaster relief operations in flood- and landslide-
hit areas in Bicol, Visayas and Mindanao.
“Given the severity of the damage wrought by these recent disasters upon the masses, the
revolutionary forces in flood- and landslide-affected areas are prioritizing disaster and relief
operations in order to ensure the safety of communities and help affected families recover
from the calamities,” the CPP said in an article posted Wednesday on its website.
The CPP’s order came shortly after a ceasefire between the government and the NPA ended
at midnight last Monday. (PIA)
