Western Visayas not transit point of terrorists–Querol
There are no reports of plans of threat groups, particularly international terrorist organizations, to sow terror in Western Visayas, the Police Regional Office 6 said yesterday.
Chief Supt. Cirpiano Querol Jr., police regional director, said there is no truth to reports in national dailies indicating that the Armed Forces national headquarters received information that Panay and Negros islands could be used as transient points of terrorists.
“I don’t see (these areas as) transit points because there are other major ports, seaports, and airports in the country. If you go to Manila, one doesn’t need to pass Western Visayas,” he said.
Still, Querol said he is not discounting the possibility that prime tourists spots in the region, like Boracay Island in Aklan, could be a target of terrorists.
“But as I’ve said, we have not received any confirmatory report indicating any terror plan,” he said.
Querol advised residents of Western Visayas “to just proceed with their usual daily activities without fear but nevertheless, we are enhancing security measures.”
“We don’t also want something to happen. So, if you see SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) personnel, especially in places of convergence, that’s my directive. I am (deploying) those special units so they could respond immediately if anything happens,” he said.
Querol said stricter security measures in airports, terminals, and seaports are also part of their pre-emptive enhancement security operations.
“If the public see more police personnel in malls, churches, and tourist spots like Boracay, it is also a part of our security enhancement,” he said.
Last week, countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Australia issued separate travel advisories, warning their nationals to exercise a high degree of caution in the Philippines because of the high threat of terrorist attack.
The terror alert came after authorities on three continents seized two explosive packages addressed to Chicago-area synagogues and packed aboard cargo jets, thwarting multiple terrorist attacks aimed at the US from Yemen.*
