Tuesday, May 16, 2006 (Philippines)

Hadji Nashier Ismael, a Cebu Muslim leader, inspects the body of one of two men who were suspected of having left a bomb at a mall entrance and were killed by police during Thursday night’s chase.Ismael noted marks near the wrist (inset) which made him believe they were from handcuffs. Other Muslim leaders who also viewed the bodies at the Eternal Memories Funeral Services said they had not seen the victims before. (Sun.star photo/Allan Defensor) As police gather more proof of two men’s alleged involvement in a terrorist move, a leader of Cebu’s Muslim community fears last Thursday’s incident was “scripted.” Hadji Nashier Ismael, former chairman of the Metro Cebu Muslim Peace and Order Council, said the men identified as Ali Usop and Datu Niel Ulama did not look like Muslims. He said all the Muslim leaders in Cebu went to the Eternal Memories Funeral Services to have a look at the two just to see if they were familiar to them. [full story]