Ople warns of terrorist backlash over war

Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople called yesterday on local governments to brace themselves for a possible terrorist backlash in Philippine cities should war break out in Iraq or the Middle East.

Ople issued the warning in a meeting with the executive board of the League of Cities at the Sheraton Park Hotel, where he apprised the mayors of international developments, particularly the Iraq crisis, and the Philippine government’s stand on the issues.

He asked the city mayors to prepare their own counter-terrorist plans down to the barangay level, even as he pleaded with the city mayors to prevent panic reactions.

He said that panic reactions could have a "contagion effect" on the morale of the 1.4 million Filipino workers in the Middle East.

"Our response must be calm, collected and firm," Ople said, while maintaining that the government is taking every step to ensure the safety and welfare of OFWs in the Middle East.

He also predicted that Filipino workers would be in great demand in "post-war" Iraq.

"I expect Filipino workers to be in demand there — in hospitals, medical care, telecoms, information and agriculture," he said.

Ople also said that there are many Filipino companies that are very keen to participate in the "reconstruction" of Iraq should it be devastated by the military might of the United States and its allies.

At the same time, he reiterated the Philippine policy against sending any combat troops to Iraq should war ensue.

"We will not be involved in any war," Ople said, while adding that the National Security Council (NSC) still has to meet over the matter.

He said there are proposals of sending humanitarian missions, of doctors and nurses to Iraq, "but there is nothing final to that because the NSC has yet to meet."

He also said that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will convene in the next few weeks as soon as there are signs of the outbreak of war.

"The ASEAN ministers will hold an emergency meeting. Cambodia will host it," he added.

He said all Philippine embassies in the Middle East are on high alert.

"There is nothing to worry about because the safety of our people in the Middle East is the paramount concern of the government, and we have obtained guarantees from all host governments like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and UAE that they will give full protection to OFWs," Ople assured.