"Philippines tightens security at airports amid reports of new terror threat"

Saturday, August 9, 2003

Philippines tightens security at airports amid reports of new terror threat
Agence France-Presse


MANILA, (AFP) - The Philippines has tightened security at its airports amid
intelligence reports that Manila's international airport might be the next
target of terrorist groups, the Philippine transportation chief said
Saturday. 

"I am instructing all personnel and heads of the country's airports to put
additional security measures especially in (the Manila airport) after such
reports that it would be the next target of terrorist groups," said
Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza. 

According to the intelligence reports from local and foreign security
agencies, the airports, particularly the Manila international airport, had
been under surveillance by suspected terrorist groups. 

Mendoza did not say who was threatening the airports but remarked that the
warning came after the bomb blast outside a luxury hotel in Jakarta on
August 5 that killed at least 10 people. 

Additional bomb-sniffing dogs have already been deployed at the country's
main airport to respond to the threat, its general manager Edgardo Manda
said. 

Officials have already taken steps to head off possible "copycat" bombings
on hotels and other commercial establishments following the Jakarta blast. 

The country has been hit by bomb attacks in recent years, most of them
blamed on Muslim extremists with alleged ties to regional terror groups.


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