25 August 2004 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo advised all “Foreign Service Posts to be extra vigilant and maintain the heightened security measures for their premises and personnel as instructed in existing circulars issued by the Department in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and updated in succeeding circulars.”

In another fax circular to all Posts, Secretary Romulo reminded the Ambassadors and Consuls General of the various Foreign Service Circulars on security for all Posts such as the circular issued on 25 October 2002, which instructed them “to take all necessary precautions for its personnel and premises against possible terrorist attacks.”    In that circular, the Department also instructed  all Posts to “make representations with appropriate authorities of the Host Government for the provision of adequate security to post personnel and premises.   If warranted, steps should be initiated to augment security measures for Filipinos in their respective jurisdictions.”

“The security instructions are already in place and all Foreign Service personnel are reminded  to be always aware of the measures being implemented by the Embassies and Consulates,” Secretary Romulo stressed.

The Secretary’s fax circular comes in the midst of a report by Philippine Ambassador to Stockholm Victoria S. Bataclan of the receipt of a letter written in Arabic and transmitted by fax to Embassies in Sweden.    Ambassador Bataclan said that based on the translation of the letter made by a Middle East diplomat in Sweden , the sender appears to show support for Iraqi cleric Muqtada Sadr and warns of military action against the US and the coalition members.   The letter is addressed to US President George W. Bush and to the 33 members of the “Coalition of the Willing,” copies of which have been furnished to Mr. Sadr and the imams in Europe.

Ambassador Bataclan said the letter “is not particularly addressed to the Philippine Embassy” and that “apparently, other embassies in Stockholm have received letters as well regarding Iraq.”    The Ambassador also said that based from the area code of the sender’s fax number, which was clearly indicated on the top of the page, “it was faxed from the metropolitan Gothenburg area (Sweden’s second largest city).”

In the meantime, Ambassador Bataclan has brought the matter  to the attention of the Swedish Police. End