US: AFP, PNP efforts curbed terrorism in 2010

"The ability of terrorist groups… to conduct terrorist activities inside the Philippines continued to decline," the US State Department said in its 2010 Terrorism Country Report because of “constant pressure" of government security forces. The US State Department said the reduced security risks happened although military and police forces were spread thin while addressing other non-terrorism problems plaguing the country, like elections and disaster response operations. "[President Benigno Aquino III's new administration has continued strong counterterrorism cooperation with the United States," the US said, pointing out the Philippine government did not make "major changes" to the counter-terrorism strategy. Noted in the terrorism report were the “vigorous efforts" of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to arrest suspected rebels and armed bandits, as well as to overrun their camps. The US State Department lauded the AFP and the PNP for also intensifying non-armed campaign to fight off terrorism. "The AFP conducted operations to counter violent extremism, including through radio programs, public service announcements, a 'junior hero program,' and publication of a comic book with anti-extremist themes," the US said. Terrosist activities surge with elections It also observed that the PNP has likewise expanded its community relations group in an effort called, "At-risk groups prone to radicalization." The US State Department however noted that there had been an upsurge in terrorist activities during period before the May and October 2010 elections. Among the incidents that the US cited in its report was the February 2010 attack by suspected communist rebels in Basilan that left 13 civilians dead. The report also cited the August 2010 bomb blast that allegedly targeted Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan. Two persons were killed, while American citizen Tan was injured. The US government took note of pending legislation to amend the Anti-Money Laundering Law that criminalizes terrorist finance as a stand-alone offense. According to the US State Department, securing a court order first before freezing the bank accounts of suspected terrorist groups is "inconsistent with international standards — which calls for the preventative freezing of terrorist assets 'without delay' from the time of designation." — ELR/VS, GMA News