Razon keeps mum on arrest of foreign terrorists

MANILA, Philippines - National Police chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr on Monday refused to disclose details about the recent arrests of three suspected foreign terrorists without first securing the approval of the Anti-Terrorism Council. In a news conference at Camp Crame, Razon said he can only divulge details when the ATC, which is headed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, gives him the go signal. "I am not allowed to discuss matters on that arrest. It is the Anti-Terrorism Council that is authorized to bring out news bulletins on the progress on that. I am tightlipped," he told reporters. Ermita disclosed last week that there are already three foreigners under custody of Philippine authorities over the alleged assassination plot against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the bombing of some embassies in the country. Ermita said one was arrested in Metro Manila while the others were in the southern part of the country. Razon said that the foreigners were nabbed "not only for immigration matters, but also in the light of our campaign against terrorists." He nodded when asked if the arrested foreigners were confirmed terrorists already. Razon explained that the government is intentionally withholding the details of said arrests because "operations are still ongoing" against their cohorts that remain unaccounted for. He admitted having reported these arrests during the 20th Interpol Conference at Hongkong last week, but "no specifics" were given out. "These are not just matters of security but also international cooperation. So it (disclosing details) might jeopardize not only the Philippines' security but that of our ally countries as well," Razon said. - GMANews.TV