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Saturday, August 27, 2005
Jemaah bombers eye key cities: military
DAVAO CITY -- Government has ordered tight security measures all over Mindanao following a report that Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) bomb operatives are planning to launch terror attacks in key cities in the island.
Major General Agustin Dema-ala, chief of the Army's 6th Infantry Division (ID), confirmed receiving reports that the JI has deployed at least 31 bomb operatives.
Dema-ala was quick to add that government forces are now monitoring movements of the bomb operatives.
It may be recalled that an 81-mm mortar type bomb was found and successfully diffused by military explosive experts in front of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) building in Kabacan, North Cotabato on Wednesday.
Police and military officials said the new JI graduates were responsible for planting the powerful bomb.
Dema-ala said all the military and police units in the region are now implementing round-the-clock inspection of all vehicles coming in and out of the area.
Dema-ala also said Abu Sayyaf leader Khadafy Janjalani and his armed followers were able to escape from the hands of government troops who pursued them since last week. They have reportedly fled to the towns of Datu Piang and Talitay in Maguindanao province.
He added that the Army's informants in the area have told him that Janjalani and his cohorts were "spotted" in the towns.
He did not give further details but said Janjalani's group is transferring from one place to another in order not to be cornered by the pursuing troops.
The Abu Sayyaf, blamed for deadly bombings and kidnappings in various cities in Mindanao, has been tagged by the United States (US) government as one of the notorious terrorist groups operating around the world.
The military and police authorities in the Philippines linked the Abu Sayyaf to the Al-Qaeda terrorist network of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. (With Ramil Bajo/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(August 27, 2005 issue)
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