RP vows to tackle terrorist threat<\/p>\n
MANILA (AFP): The Philippine government vowed yesterday to
\n\"stamp out terrorism\" and placed peace talks with Moslem autonomy
\ngroups under review as it set out to crush Islamic extremists
\nbased in the south.<\/p>\n
President Fidel Ramos ordered the justice department during a
\nNational Security Council meeting to study possible legislation
\nthat will impose higher penalties on acts of terrorism committed
\nby Filipinos or foreigners.<\/p>\n
Foreign Secretary Roberto Romulo said Ramos was \"seriously
\nconsidering\" sending a special envoy, most likely a Moslem, to
\nmake representations with western, Middle East and Asian
\ncountries on the need for cooperation against the terrorist
\nthreat.<\/p>\n
Separately, the immigration bureau said it would restrict the
\nnumber of Pakistani and Middle East nationals allowed to enroll
\nin the largely Roman Catholic country's colleges and
\nuniversities.<\/p>\n
It has stationed a 12-member anti-terrorist surveillance team
\nat the Manila international airport to look out for suspected
\nIslamic terrorists.<\/p>\n
The security council tackled terrorism, the sovereignty
\ndispute over the Spratly islands in the South China Sea, and
\nrelations with Singapore in the aftermath of last month's hanging
\nof Filipina maid Flor Contemplacion.<\/p>\n
However, most of the recommendations approved by the council
\nwere on the terrorist issue, following the April 4 raid by Moslem
\ngunmen on the southern town of Ipil which left 66 residents dead.<\/p>\n
Six Middle East men alleged to have links with the masterminds
\nof the World Trade Center bombing are also on trial here.<\/p>\n
The council backed the interior department's call to
\nreorganize concerned agencies under a single \"action committee\"
\nagainst terrorism.<\/p>\n
Ongoing peace talks with autonomy-seeking Moslem guerrillas of
\nthe Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in the south have been
\nput under \"review,\" Executive Secretary Teofisto Guingona told
\nreporters after the meeting.<\/p>\n
This followed reports that disgruntled MNLF members were
\ninvolved with the Moslem radical Abu Sayyaf group, in pillaging
\nIpil, Guingona said.<\/p>\n
\"In its effort to establish an Islamic state in the southern
\nPhilippines through terrorism, the Abu Sayyaf has linked up with
\ninternational terrorist groups,\" Ramos said.<\/p>\n
But MNLF chairman Nur Misuari, interviewed by Manila radio
\nstation DZXL from his exile in Saudi Arabia, maintained that his
\norganization had no involvement in the Ipil raid.<\/p>\n
The MNLF is \"still in the hands of responsible people,\"
\nMisuari said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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