RP diplomats in Indonesia taking extra precautions

MANADO, Indonesia — Officials of the Philippine embassy in Jakarta and the consulate in this North Sulawesi city have been taking extra security precautions amid growing terrorist threats.

Security at the twin offices, which serve an estimated 4,300 Filipinos working in Indonesia, has been a major concern because of reported threats from the Jakarta-based Jemaah Islamiyah group as a result of the Philippine government’s intensified campaign against terrorism.

Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Rafael Seguis Jr. told The STAR that necessary security measures are in place to prevent a repeat of the August 2000 bombing at the Philippine embassy that left Ambassador Leonides Caday seriously wounded.

For instance, Seguis said they built iron fences around the embassy and the consulate, prohibited parking of vehicles in front of the embassy and required visitors to undergo thorough checking.