Gazmin: Government taking steps to diminish terror threat

From GMA News (Oct 10): Gazmin: Government taking steps to diminish terror threat

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin has acknowledged the existence of a terrorist threat in the country but added that it has been diminished with the security measures the government had been taking, GMA News' Jun Veneracion reported on "24 Oras" on Friday.

Gazmin made the remarks following the arrest last weekend of three men who had been under surveillance for an alleged bomb threat in Metro Manila. They included one suspect, who had been charged in connection with the Valentine's Day bombing in Makati in 2005.

"The threat has always been there but the threat is minimized or diminished because of the active actions that we are undertaking," Gazmin said.

Gazmin said the DND was also considering the possibility that the terrorism threat was related to the scheduled visit of Pope Francis in January.

"We're continuously working on this so that we will ensure the safety of the Pope when he comes," Gazmin said.

The US Embassy on Thursday issued a security advisory to its citizens in the Philippines about a bomb plot in the country after police arrested the three men.

 

There were also bomb threats that caused class suspensions in at least two universities over the week—San Beda College in Manila on Tuesday and Miriam College in Quezon City on Thursday. Both threats turned out to be negative after police scoured the premises.

Arrest of suspects

Last October 5, Ricardo Ayeras was arrested with two others—Andrescio Valdez, alias Sabri Sindayen; and Ricky Macapagal, alias, Abdurahim. Police recovered a hand grenade and several rounds of ammunition from them.

The group was reportedly planning to bomb a bar and restaurant in Makati that catered to foreigners, and a popular establishment in Pasay City, according to a GMA News source. The PNP has yet to confirm this information. 

The Quezon City Prosecutors' Office has recommended charges of illegal possession of explosives and other raps against the suspects.

Ayeras and Valdez were transferred to the Quezon City Police District headquarters in Camp Karingal from the Masambong police station on Thursday night. Macapagal posted bail.

Ayeras, alias Abdul Karim Ayeras, was arrested in 2007 and charged in connection with the terrorist attack in Makati but the case against him was dismissed. Six persons were killed in the explosion that happened at the corner of EDSA and Ayala Avenue. The report said Ayeras was also arrested in 2011 for the bombing of the Awang Airport in Cotabato City, but was eventually released.

Ayeras also reportedly made the bomb that was used in bombing the Superferry 14 in 2004. Ninety-four passengers died in the said bombing.

Quoting an unnamed source, GMA News reported that the group was about to transfer to another hideout when they were arrested on EDSA at the Muñoz area in Quezon City.

Members of the Intelligence Service, Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested them.

The authorities reportedly recovered a grenade and a notebook with a guide on how to make an improvised explosive device. 

[Video report]

Appeal for sobriety, vigilance

PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Wilben Mayor appealed for calm but asked the public to remain watchful.

"Sa ngayon wala kaming nare-receive na threat sa Metro Manila. But again, ang ating mga mamamayan, hinihiling lang natin na maging alert lang at vigilant subalit maging kalma lang tayo," Mayor said.

Malacañang on Friday assured the public that the government was making sure the country was safe from terrorist attacks.

"We would like to assure, not just for the visit of the Pope, that our security forces are continuing to do their jobs so that we can sleep peacefully at night," said deputy presidential spokesperson undersecretary Abigail Valte.

The Department of National Defense said the US Embassy's advisory for its citizens was "understandable."

"We are currently evaluating all our information and there are no indications at this time that the foiled bomb plot is part of a greater scenario. We are treating every report with the utmost seriousness, nonetheless," said Peter Paul Galvez, spokesman of the Department of National Defense.

"It has always been the practice of the US State Department to issue advisories pertaining to possible threats & issues such as this. This is understandable considering their prevailing security posture all over the world," he added.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/383075/news/nation/gazmin-government-taking-steps-to-diminish-terror-threat