JI militant links to Muslim separatists could hit RP peace

The presence of Al-Qaeda-linked militants could undermine peace talks between the Philippines and the country’s largest Muslim separatist force, a Malaysian-led peace monitoring mission said Thursday.Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) militants as well as well members of Abu Sayyaf are believed to operate in areas under the control of the 12,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

That situation “could derail the peace negotiations,” Admiral Mohammad Som told reporters Wednesday after visiting MILF areas in the southern island of Mindanao, where the group has been waging a separatist rebellion since 1978.

The Malaysian mission, led by Som, is helping to enforce a ceasefire between the MILF and the government ahead of a final peace treaty.

Som said frequent and deadly clan wars between large Muslim families, including some MILF members, could also affect the peace process because clashes could lead to truce violations.

INQ7

Cache of explosives seized in alleged Abu Sayyaf safehouse

POLICE claimed to have foiled a plot by the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayaf to bomb anti-government street protests on May 1 with the seizure of a cache of explosives from an alleged safehouse in Marikina City on Thursday.

Several high-powered improvised bombs, five fragmentation grenades, blasting caps, and an undetermined amount of explosive material were seized from the bungalow-type rented house along Champagne Street in SSS Village, said Senior Superintendent Asher Dolina, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Metro Manila.

No arrests were made. The safehouse was abandoned when CIDG operatives swooped down at around 9 a.m., Dolina said in a phone interview.

But one of the guerrillas recently seen in the house was Jojo Janjalani, a cousin of Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khaddafy Janjalani and a suspect in the 2001 kidnapping of 20 people, including three Americans, from the Dos Palmas resort in southwestern Palawan province, said Dolina, who led the raid.

INQ7

Hmm..  the police in Manila have raided a house in Manila and claim to have seized a cache of explosives that they say belongs to members of the Abu Sayyaf Group.  This seems strange to me for several reasons.  First. it seems strange that the Abu Sayyaf would concentrate this heavily in Manila.  Sure, they have committed terrorist acts in Manila before, but this just seems strange.

Secondly, according to police, the Abu Sayyaf was going to use the explosives against government opponents while they rally on May 1st.  What???  OK, the Abu Sayyaf is fighting against the government of the Philippines.  Why would they attack others who are anti-government?  That just doesn’t make sense to me!  What do you think?

Philippine Government scores another victory in the War on Terrorism!

Alleged Abu Sayyaf rebel in Dos Palmas kidnappings captured.

MILITARY intelligence agents captured a suspected Al Qaeda-linked militant accused in bombings and the 2001 kidnapping of 20 people, including three Americans, at a Philippine resort, the army said Tuesday.Sharie Amiruddin, an alleged member of the Abu Sayyaf Muslim rebel group who also is known by his nom de guerre Abu Omar, was arrested Monday in the southern port of Zamboanga and was in police custody, army spokesman Major Bartolome Bacarro said.

Warrants for Amiruddin’s arrest have been issued for his alleged role in 13 counts of kidnapping on the southern islands of Jolo and Basilan, where the Abu Sayyaf has an active presence, Bacarro said.

Amiruddin also has been linked to bomb attacks on Jolo and in the southern cities of Zamboanga and Cotabato.

He allegedly helped plan the 2001 kidnapping of 17 Filipinos and three Americans from the Dos Palmas resort in southwestern Palawan province, Bacarro said.

INQ7

Scout rangers overrun NPA camp

Cagayan de Oro City (25 April) — Scout Rangers from the First Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army (401st Bde, PA) recently overran, after a short encounter, one of the biggest camps of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Southern Philippines located in Mt. Bayawa, Barangay Tapak, Paquibato District, Davao City.

The camp which can hold at least 50 rebels consisted of a training ground, observation posts, makeshift huts, kitchen and communal farms, Lt. Senior Grade Venus G. Gualdaquever of the Philippine Navy, Unit Commander of the 52nd Civil Relations Unit, 5th Civil Relations Group, Civil Relations Service, Armed Forces of the Philippines, said.

The encounter, Gualdaquever said, resulted to the death of 10 NPA rebels and the recovery of assorted ammunitions, 50mm and 60 mm machinegun bipods and subversive documents. (PIA-10)

Task Force Davao intensifies Lumads Livelihood projects

PANACAN, DAVAO CITY (25 April) — Task Force Davao under the leadership of Col. Eduardo Del Rosario PA (GSC) in collaboration with Globe Telecom and ABS-CBN Bayan, conducted a two days training for Lumads dubbed as “My Bridgecom sa Bayan ko” Project, with the theme Sustainable Livelihood for Barangays. This was held at the Green Heights Business and Convention Center in Davao City last April 18, 2006.

The activity was focused on the Strategies on Basic Farming and Vegetable Production and tackled Hands on Training on Food Processing and Alternative Medicine.

“The project was launched to realize the elusive dream of the tribal community which is Peace and Development,” Col. Del Rosario said.

Around 70 representatives from the Ata-Matigsalog-Ubo-Manobo Tribes benefited from the said training.

Datu Joel Unad, the Supreme Tribal Council Chairman for Peace and Development praised the worthy effort of Col. Del Rosario and other agencies that sponsored the seminar which showed their genuine concern to the natives. (5th CRG News)