THE al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) might be consolidating its forces in Palawan to enable it to launch possible attacks in Metro Manila and other areas in the Visayas, security officials said Tuesday.

Military and police officials made this remark following the arrest of six Abu Sayyaf members and seizure of bomb making components in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan in the past four days, and the arrest of four men in separate operations in the cities of Zamboanga and General Santos. The four are now under investigation for possible links to Abu Sayaff and Jemaah Islamiyah.

The six Abu Sayyaf members ear­lier arrested are now undergoing tactical interrogation by both military and police. One of them is allegedly an aide of Dulmatin, a Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) bomb expert.

“The interrogation is ongoing, but these are indications that indeed we can never be complacent. We should never be complacent,” said Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., in a chance interview in Camp Aguinaldo.

Police Deputy Chief for Administration and Deputy Director General Avelino Razon Jr., said the interrogation of the six ASG bandits was meant to find more about the group’s plan.

“They [ASG members] are being investigated. We are looking if they are planning [any] terror activities in Metro Manila,” Razon told reporters during a briefing in Camp Crame.

However, the PNP official could not say if indeed some members of the Abu Sayyaf were “migrating” to Palawan, which is not a traditional stronghold of the bandit group.

The AFP chief said the immediate arrest of the six Abu Sayyaf members in Palawan is part of the preemptive measure being undertaken by the intelligence community in preventing terror attacks.

“When you go to Manila, you don’t pass through Palawan so that could be the final destination. It seems they have plans there and we are glad that we got the whole cell,” Esperon said.

Intelligence sources said that they have been receiving information that the Abu Sayyaf were planning to build-up in Palawan for “future” actions in Metro Manila and Visayas areas.

“We have been monitoring them… it seems that they have not abandoned some of their plans that have been foiled already. They are going to Palawan to prepare,” said a Camp Crame-based intelligence officer.

The intelligence officer, who requested not to be named, said Palawan has proximity to two popular tourist destinations, Amanpulo and Boracay and to the Malampaya oil field.

The six Abu Sayyaf members arrested in Palawan were Daizer Yusop, alias Abu Daizer; Jemar Alfa; Omar Ibnu Jakarain, alias Abu Mogera; Moadz Jala, alias Abu Moadz; Abdulla Abdura­ham, alias Abdulla; and Najer Daud, alias Ben Saif Daud.

Official said Jakarain is suspected to be involved in the Bali Bombing and abduction of tourists. Among his victims were missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham, who were abducted from the Dos Palmas resort on May 2001.

Jakarain, Jala and Abduraham were nabbed by combined military and police intelligence operatives while on their way to Puerto Princesa City last Thursday.

The three were reportedly monitored leaving Bataraza town Wednesday afternoon and switching bus rides for Puerto Princesa City before being arrested the following day.

During interrogation, the three revealed that they were to meet-up with another ASG member, Daud, who had arrived in Puerto Princesa earlier.

Source: Manilatimes Online

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