Palace eyes raps vs security expert

Malacañang is considering to file a string of charges against security expert Samson Macariola despite the latter's upcoming meeting with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo about the fight against terror. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Wednesday that the administration was studying charges of alarm and scandal, possession of explosives and unjust vexation against Macariola. Macariola was supposedly able to bring bomb components, and non-explosive materials such as clay, on board a Manila-Davao flight. President Arroyo was earlier scheduled to meet with the security expert upon returning from her trip to Finland, Cuba and Hawaii. Her trip is scheduled from September 9 to 18. However, Ermita on Wednesday expressed doubts that the meeting would push through. "I don't think it's necessary. I don't think the President will meet him (Macariola). That is not something that the President would waste her time on," Ermita said. While Macariola only wanted to "expose weaknesses" in the country's security system, government officials have been less than amused by Macariola's actions. Earlier in the day, Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor called the attempt a "stunt" and that the Palace was "not informed beforehand." The Aviation Security Group (ASG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) denied Tuesday that there was a security breach at the country's airports. It said Macariola was only demonstrating the assembly of bomb components to the police. Senior Superintendent Edwin Corvera, ASG deputy chief for administration, said Macariola had been working with Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Mrs Arroyo's consultant for counter-terrorism.-GMANews.TV