Defense chief: PHL still safe for foreigners despite travel warnings

The Department of National (DND) on Wednesday said the country remains safe for foreigners despite the travel advisories four countries have issued to warn their nationals in the Philippines. DND chief Voltaire Gazmin said there are no terror threats on the Philippines, and that the government is taking steps to thwart possible terrorist attacks. “Wala tayong terror threat dito sa Pilipinas, pero ganoon pa man, tayo ay naghahanda. Pinaghahandaan natin ito, kaya ginagamit natin ‘yung mga intelligence operatives natin," he told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday. He said the military has not monitored any activity of international terrorist organizations in the country, adding that troops are deployed to prevent homegrown terror groups from launching attacks. “There are operating troops who monitor these [local terrorist groups] and to ensure na hindi magkakaroon ng mga bombing or threats kaya patuloy ang patrol ng troops," he said. The defense chief likewise said the military is making sure that activities of local terrorist groups based in Mindanao such as the al-Qaeda-linked bandit group Abu Sayyaf will not spill over to Metro Manila. “Ang pinipigilan natin talaga ‘yung mapunta sila sa mga urban centers, and this is the job of our intelligence agents, together with the police para hindi nga magkaroon ng bombings particularly in Manila," he said. After a foiled terrorist attack on the United States over the weekend, four countries – the US, Australia, United Kingdom and Canada – issued separate travel warnings over potential terrorist threats in the Philippines. Gazmin said that the issuance of travel warnings was understandable, as these countries usually take such step after uncovering terrorist threats. “Ganun naman talaga sila e. They always issue this [travel warning]… and this is addressed to their nationals na huwag na punta… Hindi bale nang mag-overreact kaysa naman magsisi later on," he said. PNP monitors crowded places After the foiled terror attack on the US, the Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed continuous monitoring of crowded places all over the country. PNP spokesperson Senior Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said the country’s 135,000-strong police force has remained on full alert status since the discovery of the US threat. “Naka-full alert tayo. Pinaigting ang security sa lahat ng vital installations, transportation hubs, terminals and economic key points," he said in a separate press briefing on Wednesday. Cruz added that the PNP’s Anti-Terrorism Council has not received any reports of potential terror threats in the country. He declined to comment on the travel warnings issued on the Philippines, saying these are “diplomatic issues" that should be addressed by the Department of Foreign Affairs. – Andreo Calonzo and Amita Legaspi/LBG/KBK, GMANews.TV