WASHINGTON D.C. - “The southern Philippines, Mindanao, and the Sulu archipelago remain a sanctuary, training, and recruiting ground for terrorist organizations,” he told the Senate armed services committee recently. Fallon said activities by terrorists and their supporters have been centered in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia and that these countries are cooperating with the US.
“With the cooperation of those nations, we have been building capacity and strengthening the ability of those countries to resist the activities of the terrorists and to actively seek their capture or demise,” he said. He said Southeast Asia remains the command’s focal point in the war on terror. He said winning the war on terrorism is his highest priority and to achieve that goal, the command is striving to eliminate the violence that now threatens the people and stability of the Asia-Pacific region. “We continue efforts to create a secure and stable environment,” Fallon said.
Anti-GMA demos erupt in NY
NEW YORK — Annti-Arroyo protests by several Filipino American groups in New York and New Jersey are continuing despite the lifting of emergency. Bayan-US, Gabriela and other groups have vowed to stage weekly pickets until President Arroyo resigns. “We will hold a picket once a week outside of the Philippine Consulate for as long as it takes until Arroyo is ousted,” said Berna Ellorin of Bayan USA. During the declaration of emergency, even the Movement for Free Philippines (MFP), an organization established by the late Senator Raul Manglapus in the 1970s to oppose the Marcos dictatorship, joined the demonstraton. “We are definitely taking part in whatever action the coalition may decide,” said Dr. Orlando Acopiado, one of few surviving original officers of the MFP.
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