US troops assist hunt for JI bombers in Mindanao
August 31, 2006 by MindanaoBob
Filed under News, Terrorism
US troops are helping with a massive manhunt in Mindanao
for members of a regional extremist group wanted for a series of bomb attacks, an official said Wednesday.
Although not involved in actual combat, the American troops are attached to Filipino Marine units and are providing valuable intelligence on the outlawed Jema’ah Islamiyah (JI), said local military commander Col. Juancho Saban.
The army believes that JI bomb experts Umar Patek and Dulmatin are being sheltered by the Abu Sayyaf Group.
“We have ongoing operations and we are on the trail of the Abu Sayyaf Group,” said Saban.
“They (the US troops) are involved in providing intelligence, but not involved in actual operations. If it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t have known where to look,” he said.
He said troops had overrun an Abu Sayyaf camp in Jolo and recovered bomb making materials believed to have belonged to Dulmatin.
The Abu Sayyaf is a small gang of extremists wanted by the US and Philippine governments for a spate of bombings and killings, including the deaths of two Americans kidnapped in 2001.
JI bombers Dulmatin and Patek are believed to be under the protection of the Abu Sayyaf chief Khadaffy Janjalani, who is now hiding in Jolo’s dense jungles where his band has mastered the rough terrain.
The US government has offered a $10-million bounty on Dulmatin’s head, while $1 million was offered for Patek.
Both men are thought to have played key roles in the October 2002 nightclub bombings in Bali, Indonesia, that left 202 people dead, mostly Australian tourists.
An AFP correspondent said he saw American troops armed with assault rifles in a Filipino Marine camp, but was told they were sent to Jolo to carry out humanitarian projects.
Col. James Linder, the American head of the joint anti-terror task force, also blamed the JI for a March bombing of a cooperative in Jolo that killed five people and injured 22 others.
Pineapple Poll
August 31, 2006 by MindanaoBob
Filed under News
Our poll about Mindanao
Which pineapple do you prefer?
Del Monte 45%
Dole 30%
Both 16%
Any 9%
As for my preference, I like them all, but with a slight preference for Del Monte!
Playing with American Yo-Yo’s
August 30, 2006 by MindanaoBob
Filed under News
9/11: The Philippine Connection
August 30, 2006 by MindanaoBob
Filed under Commentary, Terrorism
On October 11, 2005, I published a report on this blog about a terrorist named Hilarion del Rosario Santos III, alias Ahmad Santos. Santos, upon his capture told authorities that the 9/11 terrorists had gone through training in the Philippines. As far as I have ever heard, this statement has never been verified, and in fact I don’t think many people take it seriously.
Over the past few days, a local Cable TV station, ABS-CBN News Channel (commonly called ANC), which is similar to a local CNN type station has been airing advertisements for an upcoming special, which is entitled “9/11: The Philippine Connection”. Now, I am not sure, but it would seem by the title of the report that ANC has uncovered some sort of connection between the 9/11 plot and the Philippines.
As of now, I can only think of two things that could possibly connect the Philippines and 9/11:
1. The claim by Santos, as noted above; and
2. Terrorist Ramsey Yousef, who was responsible for the first bombing of the World Trade Center in New York was captured in the Philippines. In addition to being responsible for the basement parking lot bombing of the WTC, Yousef had planned another plot where planes from Asia would be used to attack the USA, similar to what the terrorists did on 9/11. In addition, Yousef’s uncle is captured terrorist, and 9/11 mastermind Sheik Mohammad.
Perhaps there are other connections that I am unaware of, perhaps a whole new connection has been uncovered by ANC. It would seem to me that a new Philippine connection would be such hot news that it would not be held for a TV special, for fear that a competitor would get ahold of the news. So, what would the connection be? Anybody have an idea?
Oh, one other point of interest is that this report is from Maria Ressa, the former CNN correspondent who now heads ABS-CBN News. Ressa is certainly a credible journalist, and I don’t think that she would associate with something that does not have some credibility.
US charge d’affaires returns to Zamboanga City
August 29, 2006 by MindanaoBob
Filed under News
“I am thrilled to return to Zamboanga City, where the American people support a wide range of programs to benefit Zamboangan families” expressed United States Embassy Charge’ d’ affairs Paul W. Jones during his visit here in Zamboanga City recently.
The US diplomat visited the city to inspect US government-sponsored projects in the area. He also met with the local political and business leaders here.
Jones was accompanied by Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat and City Health Officer Dr. Rodel Agbulos in a tour of the US government-sponsored HIV/AIDS Sentinel Surveillance Site at the Zamboanga City Social Hygiene Clinic located inside City Health Office compound in Petit Barracks, this city.
The Zamboanga City Social Hygiene Clinic is one of only 10 “sentinel sites” in the country that study HIV/AIDS statistics.
In the afternoon, Jones was a guest speaker at the closing ceremony of the “Tudlo Mindanao
Some 128 teachers received free training on how to teach academic subjects in English as well as learn information and communication technology. These teachers then will re-echo or train other teachers in the techniques they have learned upon their return to their respective areas.
During his visit, Mr. Jones also met with Zamboanga City Chamber of Commerce officers to discuss the city’s business climate and economic prosperity. (PIA)
