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Philippines On Alert for Spillover of Bali Bombing
Monday, October 14, 2002
(3:29 PM)
l'Agence France-Presse

President Gloria Arroyo.
Image Credit: l'Agence France-Presse.

"The president gave general instructions to the national police and the military (to go on) alert status in view of what happened in Indonesia," Golez said. He said there was "no specific threat" of similar bomb blasts in the Philippines but added, "we cannot take anything for granted."

MANILA -- AFP
President Gloria Arroyo has summoned her top security officials over fears of terrorist attacks similar to the deadly bomb blast in Bali and another that hit the Philippine consulate in Manado.

There was, however, no evidence to link the Indonesian attacks to a recent spate of bombings in the strife-torn southern Philippines, where hostilities with Muslim rebel groups rose over the weekend.

Top security officials and leaders of both houses of Congress met with Arroyo in the presidential palace Monday to discuss both the impact of the bomb blasts in Bali, Indonesia, and the effects of a possible US attack on Iraq.

"Iraq was the primary agenda item but yesterday, we decided to include this item about Indonesia," National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said.
(More: Yahoo! Asia News Source)
2002 © l'Agence France-Presse.

Dan