2006年VOA标准英语-Philippines on Alert in Face of Pre-Independenc

 

 

By Douglas Bakshian
Manila
11 June 2006

Police investigators¹ take a look at the damage caused by a suspected homemade bomb or a grenade as it exploded in a bus being used as a mobile police station in Manila's suburban² Quezon city  
  
Philippine police have increased security for Independence Day celebrations Monday, following two bombings near the capital. Authorities say one of the blasts wounded eight people.

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Police say the injuries occurred when a hand grenade exploded at about five a.m. Sunday in an outdoor market in Lipa - 75-kilometers south of Manila.

Shortly after, a second explosion targeted an old bus that was being used as a temporary police station in Quezon City, a Manila suburb.

No one has claimed responsibility for either blast.

Philippine Police spokesman, Samuel Pagdilao, says the attacks are probably political in nature, designed to scare but not kill.

"This cannot be attributed to terrorist groups," he said. "Those that we have seen carrying out explosions or certain activities that would really terrorize people because they do not care if there would be innocent civilians³ dead."

Manila is on heightened alert. An extra 7,000 police will join a 6,000 member security detail in the capital on Independence Day.

Police spokesman Pagdilao says security threats could come from opposition⁴ leftist groups, right-wing elements in the military, and Communist rebels.

Earlier this year, President Gloria Arroyo⁵ declared a one-week national emergency after an alleged⁶ plot to topple her government by these forces.

The opposition accuses President Arroyo of fraud in the 2004 elections and unsuccessfully tried to impeach⁷ her last year.

But the Philippines also faces terrorist threats from various militant⁸ Islamic groups - including Jemaah Islamiyah.

1 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

3 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 arroyo   

n.干涸的河床，小河

参考例句：

• She continued along the path until she came to the arroyo.她沿着小路一直走到小河边。
• They had a picnic by the arroyo.他们在干枯的河床边野餐过。

6 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

7 impeach   

v.弹劾；检举

参考例句：

• We must impeach the judge for taking bribes.我们一定要检举法官收受贿赂。
• The committee decided to impeach the President.委员会决定弹劾总统。

8 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。