CEBU (Philippines) Jan 7: Philippines authorities have ramped up security for this week's summit of Southeast Asian leaders, saying on Sunday a terror attack could not be ruled out although there was no specific threat.
After the original gathering last month was postponed at the last minute -- ostensibly because of an approaching typhoon -- several thousand extra police have been drafted in for security on the resort island of Cebu.
Armed forces are reinforcing police in securing the venue, while a raft of other measures, including an air exclusion zone and navy patrols, are also in the operation schedule.
“As far as we know there is no specific threat against the summit itself, but we have not ruled anything out,” general Silverio Alarsio, who is leading the massive security operation for the related summits of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) and East Asia group, said.
The country's military chief, Gen Hermogenes Esperon, said that “there are no concrete plans that have been monitored,” for possible terror attacks, but the armed forces were bolstering police in securing the event anyway.
Days before last month's summit was due to open, Canada, Britain, Australia and the United States all issued warnings that “credible information suggests terrorists are in the final stages of planning attacks.” None of those governments released specific details, but the Philippines abruptly cancelled the meetings citing an approaching typhoon which eventually missed Cebu.
Australia, Britain and Canada have maintained their travel warnings on Cebu for this week's summit.
One senior diplomat, who did not want to be named, told newsmen: “Although the summit itself may not be a target, there is always the possibility of something happening on the fringes, especially places frequented by foreign tourists.” Alarsio said that police and military were working closely with security agencies from Australia and the United States on intelligence gathering.
“Although there is no specific threat to the summit you can never rule out the possibility that something may happen, especially outside of Cebu,” he cautioned.
He said some 4,000 military personnel from Manila and the central Visayas islands and 6,000 police were now in place in Cebu.—AFP
