Thursday, August 05, 2004 Arroyo vows unrelenting drive v. terror
MANILA -- President Arroyo said Wednesday that the arrest of two suspected Jemaah Islamiyah members tagged in the Rizal Day bombing of 2000 only proves the country's "unrelenting vigilance" and "commitment" to the fight against terror.
Arroyo lauded the military for the arrest of Mamasao Naga, alias Zainal Paks, and Abdul Pata, alias Mohammad Amir, in Marawi City on Monday.
She said the Philippines would continue to fight alongside its allies until all terrorist cells are neutralized.
"We will continue waging this fight to clean up our shores of terrorists and alongside our neighbors, to sweep the region of their clandestine cells. We will do our best to bring the battle against terror forward and we will continue to be a strong link in the global chain of constricting terrorism," she said.
The two suspects, who were earlier named by JI bomb maker Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi as his associates in the bombing of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) on December 30, 2000, were presented to the media Wednesday. At least 22 persons were killed and hundred others injured in the bombing of the LRT and bus in Manila four years ago.
Military officers presented Naga and Pata to the public Wednesday.
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye reaffirmed the government's commitment to pursuing lawless elements, terrorist cells and bandit groups amid ongoing peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Bunye made the statement following reports that the MILF had continued to engage in arms shipment and in the recruitment and training of guerilla members.
He said the openness of both panels to jointly investigate the report is a sign of their commitment to push through with the talks.
"The fact that the government and MILF panels are looking into this jointly is already a confidence-building measure. It means that both sides want the peace process to continue and not be hindered by any isolated incidents," he added.
During the presentation of two bomb suspects, also on Wednesday, Armed Forces Chief Narciso Abaya said Naga bombed the LRT station in Blumentritt, Manila while Pata planted a bomb on a bus that eventually exploded while the vehicle was traversing along Edsa that same day.
He said they are still hunting down two other bomb suspects and the alleged mastermind.
Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita, also during the briefing, crossed out Naga and Pata from a poster showing pictures of the Rizal Day bombing suspects.
Naga, Pata and three other persons are charged with multiple murder, multiple frustrated murder and multiple attempted murder. JMR/JFF
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