DFA: PHL officials in US to closely monitor situation on 9/11 anniv

Philippine officials in the United States will closely monitor the situation there on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Saturday. DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said the Philippine Embassy in Washington and the Consulate General in New York will monitor the situation in their respective areas. “Our embassy [in] Washington and consulate in New York [are] closely monitoring situation in those cities," he said in an interview on the noontime television newscast Balitanghali. Hernandez urged Filipinos there to remain “cautious and vigilant" especially on the day of the anniversary. Also, he reiterated the Philippines’ solidarity with the American people as they mark the anniversary of the terrorist attacks. “We respect the right of the US government to protect their nationals and ensure their safety and security," he said. 'Wars of aggression' On the eve of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks on the United States, Philippine-based militant groups reiterated their sympathy with victims of the tragedy but lamented the “continuing tragedy" involving what they called the US “wars of aggression" in the last 10 years. Militant umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said the “war on terror" had given rise to questionable legislation and measures, including a supposed “direct military role" by US forces in Mindanao. “We continue to condole with the victims of this unparalleled tragedy, and we continue to condemn this unacceptable act of aggression violence against civilians... all done in the name of the 'global war on terror.' What transpired immediately after 9/11 attacks were equally condemnable: the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as other forms of US military intervention in the name of fighting ‘terror,’" it said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the US response to the 9/11 attacks was to unleash “state terror" throughout the world," it added. On Sunday, the world will mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks where terrorists targeted the Pentagon and the World Trade Center in the US. Bayan also blamed the “war on terror" for the Philippines' counter-insurgency campaign “Oplan Bantay Laya," which it said “claimed the lives of hundreds of activists and ordinary people suspected of supporting alleged ‘communist-terrorists.’" The group cited cables posted on whistleblower site WikiLeaks showing the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration gave unqualified support for the US-led war on terror, the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq as well as the permanent presence of US troops in the country. It added recent cables released by Wikileaks suggest that Arroyo gave all-out support for US counter-terrorism initiatives because she was in desperate need of US support to stay in power. Also, it claimed the present administration has uncritically allowed the permanent stationing of US troops in the country under the Visiting Forces Agreement. — LBG, GMA News