PHILIPPINES TIGHTENS SECURITY AFTER BALI BOMBINGS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 004750

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EAP/MTS, INR/EAP, INR/TNC, S/CT, USIP - SOLOMON
NSC FOR MORROW

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PREL MOPS PINS PGOV KISL ID RP
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES TIGHTENS SECURITY AFTER BALI BOMBINGS
AND SEEKS SWIFT PASSAGE OF ANTI-TERRORISM BILL

REF: MANILA 4740


1. (U) This message is Sensitive But Unclassified -- Please
handle accordingly.


2. (SBU) Summary. In the aftermath of the October 1
bombings in Bali, Indonesia, Philippine President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo expressed her condolences to the victims'
families, tightened security measures, and urged swift
passage of an anti-terrorism bill by Congress. Faced with
what has been described by Interior and Local Government
Secretary Angelo Reyes as "a clear and present danger" of a

SIPDIS
terrorist attack, the House of Representatives approved an
anti-terror bill at the Committee level on October 4. Senate
President Franklin Drilon has vowed to rush the passage of
such a bill in order to strengthen GRP counter-terrorism
efforts. The news regarding the anti-terrorism bill is
positive, but the proposal has many hoops to go through
before possible final approval. End Summary.

Condolences and Increased Security Concerns
--------------


3. (U) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and senior GRP
officials are concerned that the Philippines could be the
next target of a terrorist attack in the wake of October 1
bombings in Bali, Indonesia, that left at least 22 dead and
over 120 injured. While expressing her condolences to the
victims' families (see text of her statement in para 7),
Arroyo tightened security measures throughout the Philippines
and urged swift passage of an anti-terrorism bill. The
115,000 strong Philippine National Police is currently on a
heightened state of alert and security has been tightened in
malls, markets, train stations, hotels, and locations
frequented by foreigners. GRP intelligence units are now
intensifying their efforts to determine whether any of the
suspects in the Bali bombings have connections to the
Philippines. The bombings received a great deal of coverage
in the local press, including in editorials and op-eds.

Reacting to a "Clear and Present Danger"
--------------


4. (U) On October 4, Interior and Local Government Secretary
Angelo Reyes called terrorism the number one threat to the
Philippines and warned -- without providing specifics -- that
there is a "clear and present danger" of an attack. On the
same day, the House of Representatives approved an
anti-terror bill at the Committee level which included the
following definition of terrorism - "the premeditated,
threatened, actual use of violence or force against person or
by any other means of destruction perpetrated or against
person, property or the environment, with the intention of
creating, sowing a state of danger, panic, fear, or chaos to
the general public, group of persons or segment thereof, or
of coercing or intimidating the government to do or abstain
from doing an act." The bill is now up for plenary
discussions.


5. (U) The House anti-terror bill specifies 11 acts of
terrorism, with penalties ranging from life imprisonment and
a fine of 10 million pesos ($178,571) to death. Senate
President Franklin Drilon has vowed to rush the passage of a
bill in order to strengthen counterterrorism efforts of the
Philippines.


6. (SBU) As mentioned, the Bali bombings have received a
great deal of press coverage in the Philippines and seem to
have touched a nerve. The news regarding the anti-terrorism
bill is positive, but the proposal has many hoops to go
through before possible final approval.

Text of President Arroyo's Speech
--------------


7. (U) The full text of President Arroyo's speech in the
aftermath of the October 1 bombings in Bali, Indonesia
follows:

"We sympathize with the victims' families and reaffirm our
partnership with Indonesia against terror. The new Bali
attacks after the London attacks show the resiliency of
terrorists to strike targets when our guard is down. We have
to keep our guard up and pass the anti-terrorism bill to
interdict terrorists quickly and isolate them from doing
harm. Our vigilance at the operational and community level
is high and sustained. Our global links are tight and
working. We have limited the movements of terrorist cells
and keep them on the run. But the price of freedom is
perpetual vigilance. We must keep alert and help authorities
in their constant watch over all public places."

JOHNSON