Posted on 09/13/2012 6:45:56 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Security has been tightened around the US Embassy in Manila following the killing of an American diplomat in a shocking attack by protesters in Libya.
The Manila Police District has set up concrete barriers at the embassy's main gate and deployed additional personnel to guard the embassy premises, radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported.
Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo, MPD spokesman, was quoted in the report as saying that they will also deploy personnel to secure the embassy premises at night.
“The U.S. Embassy appreciates the strong cooperation and support that we receive from the Philippine National Police and security authorities in this regard, and we remain open for regular business,” said embassy spokesperson Tina Malone on Thursday.
Following the attack in Libya, additional police personnel and patrols were ordered around the seaside US Embassy compound along Roxas Boulevard in Manila.
US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. mourned the death of fellow ambassador Chris Stevens and three other embassy staff in a rocket attack that hit his car in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi.
Stevens was being moved to a safer venue after protesters, angered by an American film they considered blasphemous to Muslim Prophet Mohammad, attacked the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi.
“We mourn this tragic loss, and the families of our departed friends and colleagues are in our thoughts and prayers. We will do our best to honor and carry forward their memory and their service,” Thomas said in a statement.
“We are deeply saddened by the deaths of Ambassador Stevens and three of our colleagues in Libya. We echo President Obama’s and Secretary Clinton’s statements condemning the attack as a senseless act of violence,” added Malone.
PHL "outraged"
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has expressed "outrage" over the attack and condoled with the families of the victims.
"We are outraged by the horrific, criminal and senseless act of violence in Benghazi, Libya, which should be condemned by the international community," it said in a statement Thursday.
The DFA said the attack was "a serious violation of longstanding norms of international law with deep historical roots that diplomatic and consular agents are not to be harmed and that the diplomatic and consular premises are inviolable."
"We condole with the families of the US ambassador Stevens and the embassy staff who perished while in performance of their duties, particularly in their efforts to help the Libyan people pursue a just and democratic society," it added.
President Obama has directed an increase in security at all U.S. diplomatic posts around the world following attacks by protesters in Egypt and Libya.
I’m not sure this is necessary. How many muslims are there in the Philippines? Thailand might be a good place to put up the barricades.
Abu Sayaf coverts are in Manila- They collect “protection money” from the small businesses there and some medium-sized ones- I have lady biz connection there who has to pay Abu Sayaf every month or they kidnap her daughters if she tells the police.
There are many head-cutters and an active insurgency there, particularly in the south.
They were going to kill the pope there, back around 96 or so.
Abu Sayaaf.. I’m sure the Filipinos are just being smart about these security precautions. It’s not like 0bama has asked them to or anything.
All kinds of them in the South.
Operation Bojinka was also hatched in Manila —op to blow up many airliners simultaneously over the two major oceans.
It was a sharp woman police chief that captured his laptop and thus the operation was halted.
There are some extremely militant muslims in the Philippines.
Childhood chants about sticks and stones is no defense for an embassy. I am afraid the embassy will be taken over when the mob wants to go in. They are without hope.
The Thais are much smarter.
The Pinoys are following our own path of appeasing muslims in feeble attempts to pacify jihadists. About 92% of the population are Catholic. Another 4-5% are protestant Christian. Muslims only make up 1-2% (others are Buddhists, Hindus, etc.)
The major party in power (there are hundreds of parties) includes muslims in their name (Lakas-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Christian Muslim Democrats)...talk about kow-towing.
Mindinao is probably more than 75% Catholic/Christian, but the muslim minority was able to extort the creation of a separate state - Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindinao ARMM - after years and years of bloody fighting.
The insurgency continues and the US was playing an active role since 9/11 with thousands of “training” troops down south. OEF-P is Operation Enduring Freedom - Philippines precisely to deal with Abu Sayef (Al queda affiliated), MILF (who we call terrorists, but the Manila gov’t refuses to call terrorist), and numerous other violent jihadist groups.
Muslims move up to Manila looking for jobs and converting the poor. They buy conversions with money, jobs, housing, and other freebies just like hezbollah.
Now, the Thais are having none of it. Yes, their population is very orderly, non-violent, tolerant, etc., but their military has no qualms about coming down like a ton of bricks on muslims without any fear or offending islamic sensibilities...there is no appeasement on the part of the Thai military.
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