|
Saturday, September 20, 2003
AFP, PNP closing in on Al-Ghozi: Bunye
By She Caguimbal-Torres
MANILA -- Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Friday that Indonesian terrorist Fathur Rohman Al-Ghozi might have been "elusive and slippery" but it would just be a matter of time before he is recaptured.
President Arroyo, during the 2003 Global Cooperation International Convention and Peace Conference at the Century Park Sheraton, said the AFP and PNP forces are closing in on Al-Ghozi and the operations would continue until he is brought to justice.
"We are not pegging a date for the capture of Al-Ghozi, the Indonesian international terrorist, who is believed to be hiding in the jungles of Mindanao in Southern Philippines. But the hunt will be focused, intense and relentless. The dragnet is closing in on him and we are severely limiting his chances of getting through it," she said.
She also announced that she would personally check on the development in the Al-Ghozi operations when she visits Sulu and Zamboanga Sibugay on Monday in addition to the inspection of anti-terrorism efforts and the peace and development efforts in the area.
Arroyo signed Administrative Order 84 last September 18 creating an independent fact-finding commission that would investigate the alleged involvement of military officials and personnel in the Davao City bombings in March and April this year.
She also appointed Rev. Fr. Pedro Maniwang, parochial vicar of the Sta. Ana Shrine Parish in Davao City, as chairman of the commission, with retired Davao Regional Trial Court judge Anita Alfelor-Alagaban, Mindanao Business Council chair Joji Ilagan-Bian, and Nagib Sinarimbo, legal officer of the Office of Muslim Affairs, as members. A fourth member from the Department of Justice is yet to be named.
Bunye said the commission has 30 days to complete its investigations and submit their findings and recommendations on the bombings outside the Davao International Airport (DIA) last March 4, outside of the Sasa Wharf last April 2 and the bombing near three Davao City-based mosques last April 3.
He said the commission would be independent and would be allowed to do its job, even if it means sanctioning former officials of the government if they are found guilty of the charges.
The President created the commission in response to allegations of the Oakwood mutineers that several officials led by former defense secretary Angelo Reyes and former AFP intelligence chief Brig. Gen. Victor Corpus were involved in the Davao bombings.
(September 20, 2003 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
 |
| click
to comment on this article or discuss it with other readers |
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
New airport terminal 98% complete: CEO