Law enforcers and public are potent force against terrorism--Omoso
The fight against terrorism is everybody's concern. This was stressed by Deputy Director General Leo Omoso of the Philippine Information Agency during the Briefing on Counter-Terrorism held at the Ilolio Grand Hotel, Iloilo City, the other day.
Omoso told the multi-sectoral group who attended the briefing, that defeating terrorism lies not only in the hands of the law-enforcement authorities, but also in the hands of a vigilant and cooperating public.
During the activity, Chief Inspector Arjun Luig of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office discussed tasks of the PNP in coordination with the local government units in keeping the peace and order situation of the country.
"Educating the public, conduct of rehearsals/drills/dry runs will enhance security measures," Major Luig said emphasizing that the local government executives should take the lead role in the incident management and to mitigate the effects should bomb blast happens.
The PNP and the AFP are doing their best to secure the public because peace and security are primordial concerns of government, he said.
While the country has no anti-terror law yet to complement and augment the government's anti-terrorism activities, Director Omoso said that President Gloria Macapagal-Aroyo ordered for the creation of an inter-agency type of Anti-Terrorism Task Force on March 22, 2004 under the Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security.
The Anti-Terrorism Task Force was reconstituted under the Office of the President with Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita as chairman and the National Security Adviser as vice-chairman and national coordinator.
Meanwhile, President Arroyo said in one of her statements that the authorities are on top of the situation but they need the active support of the community to safeguard the perimeters of peace and order. The strong cooperation between vigilant public and security officers will deny any room to carry out sinister plots.
(T.Villavert/PIA)