“RELIABLE REPORTS indicate that terrorist attacks may be imminent in Manila, including places frequented by foreigners such as large shopping malls and convention centers.”
So announced the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in an advisory enjoining its citizens to avoid travel to the Philippines.
“Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers. Such places could include, but are not limited to, airports, shopping malls, places of worship, etc.”
So read the advisory of Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
“Terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate and could occur not only in the southern islands but also in other areas, to include Manila. Targeted sites may be public gathering places that are frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers, including American citizens.”
So affirmed the advisory from the United States. New Zealand, Canada and France also issued similar advisories.
“Displeasure.”
So was President Aquino’s reaction to these advisories, lamenting that his government did not get any prior notice of their issuances, “despite the Philippines’ being a major ally in the global war on terror.”
This even as his government appealed to foreign countries “to be more circumspect in issuing travel alerts even as it vowed not to belittle any threats to security.”
And, in effect did just that – belittling the threats, with deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte herself saying over the radio: “We have reasons to believe, as the President has already said, that the basis for the travel advisories is not as solid as we would like. Well, we think it’s disputable – it’s something to that effect that we’re as concerned about the safety of the visitors who come to the country as well as our citizens.”
The foreign governments have all the more reasons to issue these advisories with Valte invoking there the Aquino government “concerned about the safety of the visitors who come to the country…” Bringing an instant replay in the global memory of the Luneta bloodbath resulting from the botched rescue of the Chinese nationals hostaged by that dismissed police superintendent . Safety of tourists unguaranteed even in the heart of Manila!
Valte just would not stop: “But, you know, we maintain the reaction that the issuance of these travel advisories on disputable basis is merely an overreaction on the part of the sources of the advisories.”
No solid bases for the alarming advisories? Mere overreaction on the part of Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, France and good old USA?
Then why is Valte also saying – in effect overreacting to an overreaction here: “As our people can see now, we don’t take these things lightly – we have taken measures already to tighten security. You’ve seen it all around. Even the MRT (Metro Rail Transit) and the LRT (Light Rail Transit) have also imposed tighter security. Our police have been on alert since the Cotabato bus bombing. So, again, it’s just a call for vigilance also on the part of our people. It’s a dissonance in terms of our own safety and the safety of those around us.”
Dissonance – in all its meaning of condition of conflict or anxiety, of incongruity – indeed, ever at play in, nay, the very hallmark of, the Aquino administration.
And then some more.
The travel alert from the US stung the hardest at the Aquino administration. Coming as it is in the wake of the President’s call for a review of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
Tit-for-tat seen there.
Which Malacañang quickly salved with Valte, again, saying: “We’d like to believe that there is no connection between the travel advisories and the review of the VFA.”
Militant groups could only smirk: Yeah, Valte was telling it to the proverbial marines.
So announced the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in an advisory enjoining its citizens to avoid travel to the Philippines.
“Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers. Such places could include, but are not limited to, airports, shopping malls, places of worship, etc.”
So read the advisory of Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
“Terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate and could occur not only in the southern islands but also in other areas, to include Manila. Targeted sites may be public gathering places that are frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers, including American citizens.”
So affirmed the advisory from the United States. New Zealand, Canada and France also issued similar advisories.
“Displeasure.”
So was President Aquino’s reaction to these advisories, lamenting that his government did not get any prior notice of their issuances, “despite the Philippines’ being a major ally in the global war on terror.”
This even as his government appealed to foreign countries “to be more circumspect in issuing travel alerts even as it vowed not to belittle any threats to security.”
And, in effect did just that – belittling the threats, with deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte herself saying over the radio: “We have reasons to believe, as the President has already said, that the basis for the travel advisories is not as solid as we would like. Well, we think it’s disputable – it’s something to that effect that we’re as concerned about the safety of the visitors who come to the country as well as our citizens.”
The foreign governments have all the more reasons to issue these advisories with Valte invoking there the Aquino government “concerned about the safety of the visitors who come to the country…” Bringing an instant replay in the global memory of the Luneta bloodbath resulting from the botched rescue of the Chinese nationals hostaged by that dismissed police superintendent . Safety of tourists unguaranteed even in the heart of Manila!
Valte just would not stop: “But, you know, we maintain the reaction that the issuance of these travel advisories on disputable basis is merely an overreaction on the part of the sources of the advisories.”
No solid bases for the alarming advisories? Mere overreaction on the part of Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, France and good old USA?
Then why is Valte also saying – in effect overreacting to an overreaction here: “As our people can see now, we don’t take these things lightly – we have taken measures already to tighten security. You’ve seen it all around. Even the MRT (Metro Rail Transit) and the LRT (Light Rail Transit) have also imposed tighter security. Our police have been on alert since the Cotabato bus bombing. So, again, it’s just a call for vigilance also on the part of our people. It’s a dissonance in terms of our own safety and the safety of those around us.”
Dissonance – in all its meaning of condition of conflict or anxiety, of incongruity – indeed, ever at play in, nay, the very hallmark of, the Aquino administration.
And then some more.
The travel alert from the US stung the hardest at the Aquino administration. Coming as it is in the wake of the President’s call for a review of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
Tit-for-tat seen there.
Which Malacañang quickly salved with Valte, again, saying: “We’d like to believe that there is no connection between the travel advisories and the review of the VFA.”
Militant groups could only smirk: Yeah, Valte was telling it to the proverbial marines.
