/ stevenwarran's Library/ Notes/ October 14, 2003, The Philippine Star, Terrorists won't get far in RP — GMA,
October 14, 2003, The Philippine Star, Terrorists won't get far in RP — GMA,
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October 14, 2003, The Philippine Star, Terrorists won't get far in RP — GMA,
Praising security forces for an operation that killed escaped Indonesian terrorist Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi, President Arroyo stressed yesterday that "terrorism will never get far in the Philippines" and the incident should ease public anxiety over terror attacks.
But the President was silent on accusations that Al-Ghozi was summarily executed by government troops.
"The death of Al-Ghozi signals that terrorism will never get far in the Philippines and that the long arm of the law will eventually get them," Mrs. Arroyo said in a statement. "This event should lift much of the anxieties of our people… I would like to commend all military and police forces involved."
The President used the Al-Ghozi killing to stress her commitment to the global campaign against terrorism and reiterate her recent successful participation in several international events.
Mrs. Arroyo just recently returned from the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bali, Indonesia, where the war on terror was high on the agenda.
The Philippines is also expected to participate in the upcoming Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia next week.
"We are determined to end this transnational threat decisively, especially in the wake of positive developments such as the widening participation of our ASEAN neighbors in our collective battle against terrorism, our growing strategic partnership with the United States and the consensus being built across institutions, such as the UN and OIC, for peace and development in Mindanao," the President said.
"The day will come when terrorists can no longer hide because we shall have drained the pond of poverty in which they swim and recruit adherents to their evil cause," she said.
Mrs. Arroyo, who has reversed an earlier decision not to seek a full six-year term next year, said the 67 police "tracker teams" that took three months to hunt down Al-Ghozi will now be used in a re-intensified campaign against kidnapping syndicates.
"These 67 tracker teams, we will use and get the cream of them and bring them here to get kidnappers in (the) Metro Manila area," the President said as she turned over Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) refund checks to consumers in Novaliches, Quezon City.
The President later flew to General Santos City, where Al-Ghozi's body lies in a morgue awaiting disposition.
At the same time, the President and her aides ignored speculations that Al-Ghozi was already in government custody and was executed Sunday to bury the circumstances of his escape on July 14.
"We would have preferred it if he were captured alive so we can extract as much intelligence information as possible, but it (can't) be helped if there was an actual shootout," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye told Palace reporters.
Philippine National Police chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said Al-Ghozi, who escaped from the PNP’s Camp Crame headquarters July 14, was killed Sunday during a shootout at a checkpoint in Pigkawayan, North Cotabato.
Ebdane, whom Mrs. Arroyo tasked to find Al-Ghozi, said he felt like a thorn was removed from his side.
"Parang nabunutan ng tinik (Like a thorn was removed)," Ebdane said.
Al-Ghozi was positively identified through fingerprints and his nearly naked, bullet-riddled body in a morgue was shown on ABS-CBN television network.
An Indonesian diplomat in Mindanao has also reportedly sought to have the body repatriated.
Praising security forces for an operation that killed escaped Indonesian terrorist Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi, President Arroyo stressed yesterday that "terrorism will never get far in the Philippines" and the incident should ease public anxiety over terror attacks.
But the President was silent on accusations that Al-Ghozi was summarily executed by government troops.
"The death of Al-Ghozi signals that terrorism will never get far in the Philippines and that the long arm of the law will eventually get them," Mrs. Arroyo said in a statement. "This event should lift much of the anxieties of our people… I would like to commend all military and police forces involved."
The President used the Al-Ghozi killing to stress her commitment to the global campaign against terrorism and reiterate her recent successful participation in several international events.
Mrs. Arroyo just recently returned from the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bali, Indonesia, where the war on terror was high on the agenda.
The Philippines is also expected to participate in the upcoming Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia next week.
"We are determined to end this transnational threat decisively, especially in the wake of positive developments such as the widening participation of our ASEAN neighbors in our collective battle against terrorism, our growing strategic partnership with the United States and the consensus being built across institutions, such as the UN and OIC, for peace and development in Mindanao," the President said.
"The day will come when terrorists can no longer hide because we shall have drained the pond of poverty in which they swim and recruit adherents to their evil cause," she said.
Mrs. Arroyo, who has reversed an earlier decision not to seek a full six-year term next year, said the 67 police "tracker teams" that took three months to hunt down Al-Ghozi will now be used in a re-intensified campaign against kidnapping syndicates.
"These 67 tracker teams, we will use and get the cream of them and bring them here to get kidnappers in (the) Metro Manila area," the President said as she turned over Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) refund checks to consumers in Novaliches, Quezon City.
The President later flew to General Santos City, where Al-Ghozi's body lies in a morgue awaiting disposition.
At the same time, the President and her aides ignored speculations that Al-Ghozi was already in government custody and was executed Sunday to bury the circumstances of his escape on July 14.
"We would have preferred it if he were captured alive so we can extract as much intelligence information as possible, but it (can't) be helped if there was an actual shootout," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye told Palace reporters.
Philippine National Police chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said Al-Ghozi, who escaped from the PNP’s Camp Crame headquarters July 14, was killed Sunday during a shootout at a checkpoint in Pigkawayan, North Cotabato.
Ebdane, whom Mrs. Arroyo tasked to find Al-Ghozi, said he felt like a thorn was removed from his side.
"Parang nabunutan ng tinik (Like a thorn was removed)," Ebdane said.
Al-Ghozi was positively identified through fingerprints and his nearly naked, bullet-riddled body in a morgue was shown on ABS-CBN television network.
An Indonesian diplomat in Mindanao has also reportedly sought to have the body repatriated.
Relieved Officials
The confirmation of Al-Ghozi's death ends an embarrassing episode for Mrs. Arroyo and gives her a sense of victory in the war on terrorism just six days ahead of the visit of US President George W. Bush.
National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said Al-Ghozi’s killing was not only a victory for the Philippines but for all countries involved in the global war against terror.
"The killing of Al-Ghozi is a major triumph of the world in the fight against international terrorism. It demonstrates the tenacity and resoluteness of the Philippine counter-terrorism campaign under the leadership and direction of President Arroyo," Golez said.
Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita said security officials are relieved that Al-Ghozi was killed before Bush's arrival.
"It’s very good news because we will not have to worry that Al-Ghozi will come to Manila to sow terror during President Bush's visit," Ermita said, stressing that the government will not relax its security measures.
"We cannot relax," Ermita said. "Al-Ghozi is only one man and we all know that there are many threats."
Senate President Franklin Drilon echoed the President's optimism and said Al-Ghozi's killing "is definitely good news for our security agencies as we have shown the international community that the Philippine government is dead serious in the fight against terrorism."
Davao City Rep. Prospero Nograles said Al-Ghozi's killing is expected to dramatically improve local and international perception on the country's preparedness against terrorism.
"This is solid proof that President Arroyo knows exactly what to do when she enlisted the country as part of the global alliance in the war against international terrorism," Nograles said.
Financial markets reacted positively, too, with Philippine shares closing at their highest level in 18 months. — AP, Marichu Villanueva, Christina Mendez, Jaime Laude
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