Leyte gov’t mulls counter-terrorism program

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 3): Leyte gov’t mulls counter-terrorism program

TACLOBAN CITY -- Leyte Vice Governor Carlo P. Loreto is pushing for the creation of a Counter-Terrorism Program for the province to boost local anti-terrorism initiatives.

“Based on the investigation with the Masasapano incident it was found that law enforcement lacked the intelligence or information. This is because the government forces were unable to counter the terrorist’s activities. Here in Leyte, we should not wait for these things to happen,” said Loreto.

Recently, the official was in Davao and personally saw the extent of destruction to schools and other structures by the bombing incidents.

Since it is costly and impractical to put cameras all over the province especially that the province is just reeling from the effects of the 2013 super typhoon, measures should be focused on how to protect the airport, ports, vitals installations and people from terrorist activities.

“By integrating different communications network of the existing government facilities, we can have an integral system or an information super highway across the province,” Loreto added.

In his memorandum, Loreto said that “never before has there been such an urgent need for electronic surveillance and a robust, integrated communications network in the province, because of the various forms that terrorism has manifested itself across the world and in the country.”

He believed that “to effectively fight the terrorist network, preventive security measures must be installed and improved where they may strike, and hunt them where they rest and train.”

This requires sharing information with various law enforcement organizations and most importantly between various intelligence services.

Loreto also recommended to the governor for the province to “draw up a plan to enhance and achieve integration of the various communications facilities of possibly all government agencies into a comprehensive, integrated communications super highway, to enhance the detection and surveillance capabilities of agencies operating in the province, which through cooperative analysis will ensure that the intelligence data gathered is accurate and will be properly shared and utilized.”

Loreto is hopeful that the provincial government of Leyte will conduct several exploratory talks with technical staff of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Science and Technology, National Transmission Corporation, National Power Corporation, Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, and other agencies.

“Each of these agencies have existing communications networks, which may complement each other and be enhanced,” Loreto said.

Loreto added that if the governor deemed it necessary, a provincial ordinance on the subject may be passed on an urgent basis.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=740868