The Japanese government issued a warning to its residents in numerous Southeast Asian countries about the possibility of a terror attack, according to its embassy in Manila, last Tuesday, September 14
The Japanese embassy in Manila verified that a warning had been released to inform its citizens of the threat, but that it was unable to provide any additional information or reveal the source of its information. The advice was delivered on Monday, September 13, according to news sources from Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand.
“We confirm that Japanese government has received information about a possible terror attack, but we cannot give any detailed background at the moment,” said an embassy official in the Philippine News Agency.
According to the Associated Press (AP), after receiving information that "increased risks such as suicide bombings" exist in the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Myanmar, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised its citizens to avoid crowds and religious facilities in those countries.
Based on AP, the alert had been sent to Japan's embassies in the nations in question, where it would be disseminated to Japanese people.
Despite Japan's recent warning, Philippine security officials stated on Tuesday that they had not received any information of probable terror threats in the country.
Philippine Armed Forces (Philippine Armed Forces) Colonel Ramon Zagala, a spokesman, said security reports were constantly confirmed, and that the country's threat level was "moderate" at the time of the latest inspection. The Department of National Defense also stated that the Japanese Foreign Ministry's advice would be validated.
“We have not received any report on possible terror attacks as advised by the Japan Foreign Ministry,” Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Guillermo Eleazar said in a statement.
“[A]nd it is a continuous process. As per last review our threat level is moderate,” the AFP said separately. “We ensure that all citizens, Filipinos or not, as long as they are within our territory, are protected and kept safe from terrorists' threats.”
The Defense Department also stated that the warning would be validated, emphasizing that officials are closely collaborating with other government branches to monitor potential security risks.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, on the other hand, stated that it had not been formally notified of the situation.
Despite the claim, the PNP stated that security troops will be on the lookout.
“Noon pa man ay patuloy ang aming intelligence monitoring,” Eleazar said. “ At nananatiling maigting ang ating pakikipag-ugnayan sa iba’t ibang bansa laban sa terorismo through information-sharing and partnership in dealing with terror groups.”
Officials in the Southeast Asian countries involved by the advice say there is no new information regarding heightened security concerns in their country, and that threats will be reviewed regularly.
Comments