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Sunday, April 04, 2004
Gov't defends roundup of suspected terrorists
MANILA -- President Arroyo Friday justified the joint military and police operation that led to the arrest of several suspected Abu Sayyaf members, which she said, was a product of diligence and hard work.
Arroyo said instead of being criticized, the police and military deserve commendation and praise for their success.
"Terrorism is a crime against all humanity, and there are no political or religious undertones to the anti-terror campaign. Questions raised over the legitimacy of the arrests can be fully addressed in the courts. The people can be rest assured that the government is using all means at its disposal to stave off this threat," Arroyo said.
Relatives of two of the six alleged Abu Sayyaf members who were apprehended have complained that they do not belong to the local terrorist group whom Arroyo said were planning to bomb the metropolis.
Hannah Villanueva, wife of suspect Abdulwali Villanueva, and Marylin Laudit, sister of suspect Habil Delleosa, claimed that the suspects were framed.
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye challenged critics of the government's anti-terror campaign to go to court to question the Palace's strategy.
Bunye downplayed criticism of alleged indiscriminate arrests of Muslims suspected of being terrorists.
"What is important is that our armed forces and police, with cooperation from the citizens, are doing their job to fight the threat of terrorism." he said.
Bunye said Abu Sayyaf members who have been arrested are assured that their rights will be protected and all procedures on due process will be observed.
Suspect presentation
Defense Sec. Eduardo Ermita, on the other hand, said in a briefing in Malacaņang they are preparing to present the arrested suspects to the media as soon as their interrogation is finished. He said it would also dismiss allegations that they were tortured.
He said they are also verifying claims of Delleosa that he was responsible for the fire that hit Superferry 14 last February "(because) we cannot take this hook, line, and sinker."
He also called on a certain Muwad Santos, who was reportedly being pursued by authorities on suspicion that he is a terrorist, to surrender to authorities and prove his claims following his appearance on television denying involvement in any terrorist group. Santos is one of those who reportedly escaped during a police operation in Cubao, Quezon City.
Ermita, after the meeting of the Anti-Terror Task Force in Malacacaņang, said the government is not discounting the claims of ASG leader Khadaffy Janjalani that they have several suicide bombers in Metro Manila.
"He is now the top honcho of the ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group), he is known to have trained in Afghanistan and therefore he is known to have contacts all the way from his time in the Afghan war and contacts probably in Pakistan and there is no saying that he is not receiving any support through the Jemaah Islamiyah network from the Al Qaeda," he said.
He added that some Abu Sayyaf members have resorted to mixed marriages to gain access in a particular area while those in the ASG Balik-Islam program are Christians trained at handling explosives. Those who escaped from the Cubao raid are reportedly Balik-Islam members.
But Ermita said they are not singling out Muslims. He added that he would not allow such a thing because he has many Muslim friends.
"We will see to it that all actions of our agencies will be in accordance with usual procedure being sure that actions are done on those who are real culprits and based on information and evidence," he said.
Sen. Robert Barbers, for his part, assured the Muslim community that the government would properly observe human rights in the detention of their brother Muslims suspected of being terrorists.
Barbers likewise asked the government to make sure that the arrest of several suspected Abu Sayyaf members should be given full protection of the law until proven guilty.
He then asked the government to hasten the preliminary investigation of the suspected bandits and release them immediately if they are not found guilty.
Barbers called on the Muslim leaders or the ulamas to convince their fellow Muslims to stay calm and not allow themselves to be exploited by political opportunists.
The Anti-Terror Task Force convened Friday in Malacaņang to review security measures of the government against terrorism, particularly after the Madrid attack late last month, the arrest of several ASG members and seizure of a cache of explosives.
The task force is composed of the Armed Forces and the PNP's intelligence arms, the special action force, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Bureau of Customs, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), the Task Force Security of Critical Infrastructure, the Philippine Transnational Crime Group and the National Counter Action Against Smuggling.
Former President Fidel Ramos, Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Jose De Venecia, advisers of the task force, also attended the meeting where it was resolved that Congress would again take up the proposed anti-terrorism bill.
Ermita said Drilon, De Venecia and Deputy House Speaker Raul Gonzales assured that the bills would be re-filed when the 13th Congress opens in July.
Meanwhile, the government negotiating panel assured the National Democratic Front (NDF) that 32 alleged political prisoners would be released in a month's time from the birthday of Arroyo on April 5.
Chief government negotiator Silvestre Bello III said nine of the alleged political prisoners are covered by a 2001 release order signed by Arroyo and seven of them are women. The lists covers 121 alleged political prisoners but only 98 of them had been released.
Bello said among those to be released is Zenaida Llesis, who is a nursing mother.
He said the government continues to honor its commitment to release allegedly political prisoners as part of the confidence building measures.
The reiteration of the commitment refutes earlier claims of the NDF that the government had reneged on its agreement to release alleged political prisoners. JMR/JPM/Benjamin B. Pulta
(April 4, 2004 issue)
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