PHILIPPINES: ROUGE PHILIPPINE SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN HOLDING AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR RUTH PEARCE AND TWO AMERICANS IN MANILA'S FINANCIAL AND DIPLOMATIC QUARTER
Record ID:
648667
PHILIPPINES: ROUGE PHILIPPINE SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN HOLDING AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR RUTH PEARCE AND TWO AMERICANS IN MANILA'S FINANCIAL AND DIPLOMATIC QUARTER
- Title: PHILIPPINES: ROUGE PHILIPPINE SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN HOLDING AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR RUTH PEARCE AND TWO AMERICANS IN MANILA'S FINANCIAL AND DIPLOMATIC QUARTER
- Date: 26th July 2003
- Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (NOVEMBER 29, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. LAS/SV FLAGPOLES OUTSIDE TOWER HOUSING AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY WITH NO AUSTRALIAN FLAG (2 SHOTS) 0.09 2. CU/SV NOTICE ON DOOR SAYING AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY HAS TEMPORARILY MOVED LOCATION (2 SHOTS) 0.15 3. SLV OF AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY 0.22 4. SLV PULL IN MCU (English) AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR, RUTH PEARCE, SAYING: "The closure of the embassy in Manila was considered a high level decision based on specific intelligence information that was assessed as credible. The decision reflected our government's commitment to protect the welfare of staff and visitors to the embassy. I cannot go into details about the nature of the information. The Philippine government was advised of the decision before it was made public. We regard the threat as requiring ongoing vigilance and we are keeping the situation under close review." 1.08 5. LV OF PRESS BRIEFING 1.13 6. MCU (English) AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR, RUTH PEARCE, SAYING: "I can only refer you to what Minister Downer has been saying in Australia concerning the nature of the threat. I think he has made reference to Islamic fundamentalist groups." 1.31 7. SLV OF JOURNALISTS 1.39 8. SLV PEARCE LEAVES ROOM 1.50 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 10th August 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- Country: Australia
- Reuters ID: LVAE0JZPJ6T9JGOPS5ZGPZEHT63T
- Story Text: Rogue Philippine soldiers have been holding Australian
ambassador Ruth Pearce and two Americans in Manila's financial
and diplomatic quarter.
Rogue Philippine soldiers were holding the Australian
ambassador and two Americans on Sunday (July 27) but denied
they were staging a coup as they accused the government of
corruption.
Philippine military officials said the renegade soldiers
were holding Ruth Pearce, Australia's ambassador to the
Philippines, and four members of the Australian Federal Police
in a building at the Glorietta shopping complex in the heart
of the capital.
Defence Secretary Angelo Reyes later said two Americans
were also being held.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the capture of
up to 70 junior officers and armed deserters on Saturday (July
26) after days of rumours about brewing anger among a group of
troops about pay and the pace of internal reforms.
Last November, embassies of Australia, Canada and the
office of the European Union closed in the Philippines capital
following security threats which foreign diplomats say came
from Islamic fundamentalist groups.
At a press conference at a hotel in Manila, Pearce
re-iterated Canberra's concerns.
"The closure of the embassy in Manila was considered a
high level decision based on specific intelligence information
that was assessed as credible. The decision reflected our
government's commitment to protect the welfare of staff and
visitors to the embassy. I cannot go into details about the
nature of the information. The Philippine government was
advised of the decision before it was made public. We regard
the threat as requiring ongoing vigilance and we are keeping
the situation under close review," Pearce said.
The alert, just six weeks after the Bali bombings,
appeared to be confined to the Philippines.
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