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Thursday, June 26, 2003
Some Sayyafs in Manila, Arroyo confirms
By She Caguimbal-Torres
PRESIDENT Arroyo acknowledged Wednesday that some members of the Abu Sayyaf have already slipped into Metro Manila, trying to pass themselves off as ordinary civilians.
Arroyo made the revelation as she called on the public, particularly those residing in the Muslim communities, to be more alert and to help in identifying members of the bandit group who are in the metropolis either to hide or plan something.
"Abu Sayyaf members have come to hide in Metro Manila thinking they can get lost in crowd. We must foil their plans by exercising effective community vigilance. Just as we sought out each and every victim of Sars, let us seek out and report every terrorist in our midst," she said in a statement.
"We are also banking on the cooperation of Muslim community leaders, but every Filipino must be the eyes and ears of our campaign to bring terrorists to justice," she added.
Arroyo said the police and military are now keeping an eye on the "possible lairs in (the) metropolis" where the Abu Sayyaf members could be hiding.
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said the public could help by being more alert and immediately informing their barangay leaders if there are strangers or new and suspicious faces in their areas.
He also defended the members of the Armed Forces particularly the Southern Command, who appeared to have been given the slip by the ASG, whose members are now in Metro Manila.
"These terrorists are really operating practically everywhere and as the President has aptly described the extent of their activities, they're not only operating here, they're operating trans-nationally. That's why we have to really approach this problem together, we have to work hand in hand in flushing out these terrorists," he added.
Bunye said both the local police and local government officials had been alerted by this development and the police have been advised to take necessary action.
He said the proposed conduct of the Balikatan 03-1 in Sulu, however, is not affected by this development.
He said the lack of a final Terms of Reference (TOR) is the only thing that's delaying the conduct of the Balikatan, which aims to improve the campaign against terrorists like the Abu Sayyaf and make the operational plans and strategies more applicable.
(June 26, 2003 issue)
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