RP vows to tackle terrorist threat

RP vows to tackle terrorist threat

MANILA (AFP): The Philippine government vowed yesterday to
"stamp out terrorism" and placed peace talks with Moslem autonomy
groups under review as it set out to crush Islamic extremists
based in the south.

President Fidel Ramos ordered the justice department during a
National Security Council meeting to study possible legislation
that will impose higher penalties on acts of terrorism committed
by Filipinos or foreigners.

Foreign Secretary Roberto Romulo said Ramos was "seriously
considering" sending a special envoy, most likely a Moslem, to
make representations with western, Middle East and Asian
countries on the need for cooperation against the terrorist
threat.

Separately, the immigration bureau said it would restrict the
number of Pakistani and Middle East nationals allowed to enroll
in the largely Roman Catholic country's colleges and
universities.

It has stationed a 12-member anti-terrorist surveillance team
at the Manila international airport to look out for suspected
Islamic terrorists.

The security council tackled terrorism, the sovereignty
dispute over the Spratly islands in the South China Sea, and
relations with Singapore in the aftermath of last month's hanging
of Filipina maid Flor Contemplacion.

However, most of the recommendations approved by the council
were on the terrorist issue, following the April 4 raid by Moslem
gunmen on the southern town of Ipil which left 66 residents dead.

Six Middle East men alleged to have links with the masterminds
of the World Trade Center bombing are also on trial here.

The council backed the interior department's call to
reorganize concerned agencies under a single "action committee"
against terrorism.

Ongoing peace talks with autonomy-seeking Moslem guerrillas of
the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in the south have been
put under "review," Executive Secretary Teofisto Guingona told
reporters after the meeting.

This followed reports that disgruntled MNLF members were
involved with the Moslem radical Abu Sayyaf group, in pillaging
Ipil, Guingona said.

"In its effort to establish an Islamic state in the southern
Philippines through terrorism, the Abu Sayyaf has linked up with
international terrorist groups," Ramos said.

But MNLF chairman Nur Misuari, interviewed by Manila radio
station DZXL from his exile in Saudi Arabia, maintained that his
organization had no involvement in the Ipil raid.

The MNLF is "still in the hands of responsible people,"
Misuari said.