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IN a
move quickly denounced by government critics as one
meant to blunt mounting protests against corruption, the
Presidential Security Group (PSG) started reviewing all
presidential engagements scheduled in the coming weeks,
citing fresh reports of a “possible” assassination
attempt by terrorists against President Arroyo.
PSG
commander Brig. Gen. Romeo Prestoza told reporters in an
interview that security concerns over possible terrorist
threats—not destabilization plots—had prompted him to
recommend the cancellation of the President’s
participation at the Philippine Military Academy Alumni
Association homecoming in Baguio City this weekend.
“There
is a real threat [against the President’s life]….If
assassins want to do something bad, they will always
find a way,” Prestoza said.
He said
the “assassination plot has been there a long, long time
ago” but the “PNP has uncovered something” which
suggests targets other than the Chief Executive.
“There
are reports. Accordingly, there are targets and the
President is one of them.
The
President is not the only target,” Prestoza said, but
did not elaborate.
Asked
where the possible threat would come from, the PSG said
it may be from the extremist Jema’ah Islamiyah (JI) and
its local arm, the Abu Sayyaf Group, as well as the New
People’s Army; and that it was uncovered about a week
ago.
“The JI
may be involved….It’s a terrorist threat,” Prestoza
said.
He said
the PSG is coordinating with the police and the military
to ensure that the President’s engagements are secured.
“We are
giving serious consideration to the President’s
engagements. We will look at the security aspects [of a
venue], if it is easy or difficult to secure. We will
cancel [engagements] in areas that are difficult to
secure,” Prestoza said.
He said
the cancellation of the
Baguio
trip is not related to Friday’s mass action against the
administration, adding the President’s supposed PMAAA
event is on February 16, not on Friday.
Asked
whether the threat is related to the Lozada issue,
Prestoza replied, “There is no connection.” |
