Canada, Britain and Australia are still warning of a possible terrorist threat in the Philippines days before Asian leaders are due to arrive for postponed summits, embassies said yesterday.
Canada, Britain, Australia and the US issued travel advisories last month warning of a possible terror attack in the central city of Cebu which is hosting the meets.
The warnings were seen by many as the reason for the Philippine government canceling the scheduled summits last month of the 10-nation ASEAN and East Asia group.
The government's official line was that a typhoon was approaching, which missed Cebu anyway.
Matthew Lussenhop, first secretary and spokesman for the US embassy in Manila, said the US had dropped its travel advisory on Cebu although it maintains a "general travel warning" for the Philippines.
He would give no further details.
However the Canadian government warned terrorists were in the final stages of planning attacks.
"Following the announcement that the previously postponed ASEAN will now be held in Cebu in January, there is a renewed threat of terrorism," the government said on its Web site.
"Credible information suggests terrorists are in the final stages of planning attacks," the report said.
Its embassy reaffirmed the warning to reporters yesterday.
"It has been posted on our website for several weeks now. The only amendment was made when the new dates [for the summits] were advised by the Philippine government," said Steven Rheault-Kihara, political and economic counsellor with the embassy, without elaborating.
One diplomatic source, who did not want to be identified, said: "It's better to err on the side of caution. The summit itself is not in any danger but there are groups out there who may want to make their presence felt and embarrass the government at the same time."
The Philippine government has confirmed attendance by all 16 heads of state of ASEAN member countries and their East Asian dialogue partners.
The summits will be held from Wednesday through Jan. 15.
The exact reasons for the warnings are unclear although a nationwide manhunt has been ordered for a Vietnamese-American "terrorist" who allegedly tried to bomb the Vietnam embassy here.
Police have been ordered to find and arrest Vihn Nguyen Tan, also known as Vo Van Duc, leader of the Free Vietnam Revolutionary Group who escaped detention last year.
"In view of the uncertainty as to his whereabouts, it may be assumed that he has not left the Philippines and therefore poses a threat to the forthcoming ASEAN summit," Raul Gonzalez, the justice secretary, said yesterday.
The Australian embassy said yesterday it was maintaining its warning that information suggested terrorists were in the final stages of planning an attack, but declined to comment further.
The British embassy is also keeping its advisory but could not be contacted for comment.
President Gloria Arroyo said authorities were taking the warnings seriously but insisted that the summits would go ahead.
"We have faced some challenges before in the hosting of international events but for this particular summit we believe that we could hold it at its proposed site at Cebu," said Ignacio Bunye, a presidential spokesman.
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