More anti-terror pacts eyed

Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople said yesterday that the Philippines is now lining up a number of anti-terror agreements with Philippine friends and allies.

Ople issued the statement from Australia following the bombing at the Davao City airport that killed at least 21 people and the signing of an agreement between the Philippines and Australia for a joint campaign against international terrorism.

"This (Davao) carnage makes us grieve. But as we bury our dead and nurse our wounded back to health, we must bring the bombers to account for their foul deed and further steel our resolve to see to it that they and their ilk are put out of business permanently," he said.

Ople pointed out that the Philippines, along with other countries, is taking the necessary steps to fight terrorism, and that it is necessary for like-minded countries to unite in the fight.

"Other countries similarly victimized by terrorists are also taking corresponding measures to defend themselves. We are currently lining up a number of anti-terror agreements with our friends and allies towards that end," he said.

Ople said the explosion of the bomb in a crowded area at the Davao City airport indicated that the perpetrators aimed to inflict death and destruction upon as many victims as possible.

"There is no overstating it – this evil shall be stopped. The Filipino people, as all civilized peoples everywhere, shall prevail," he stressed.

This came as Ople and Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer signed yesterday a memorandum of understanding between their two countries on cooperation to combat international terrorism.

Ople said that the agreement was initiated by Australia following the death of many Australians in Bali on Oct. 12, 2002.

He noted that the Philippines has also proposed a sub-regional mechanism against terrorism and other transnational crimes with other ASEAN countries.

Ople is scheduled to leave Canberra for Wellington today to meet with New Zealand’s government leaders, as well as with leaders of the Filipino community there.