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Tuesday, August 29, 2006
3 suspected bombers captured in southern RP
By Al Jacinto
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Three alleged Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) bombers were captured by security forces in the southern Philippines while about to board a ferry bound for Manila, military and other sources said Monday.
Soldiers and policemen arrested the trio Sunday while about to board the Super Ferry at the Pollok port in Maguindanao's Parang town. Troops had seized three improvised explosive devices from the men, according to Army Lieutenant Colonel Julieto Ando, a spokesman for the 6th Infantry Division.
"Three men, believed to be Muslims, were arrested and explosives had been seized from them. They are being investigated and military and police forces are in heightened alert in central Mindanao," he said.
Ando said civilian informants who had knowledge of a supposed terror plot led security forces in the operation to arrest the men. "The informants provided us intelligence and helped us arrest the three men, who were allegedly on a bombing mission in Manila," he said.
Other security sources said the trio was allegedly members of the MILF's special operations group, tagged by the military and police as behind previous bombings in the southern Philippines.
The MILF is the country's largest Muslim rebel group and it is currently negotiating peace with Manila.
The ferry was bound for Manila, but is expected to stop in the ports of Zamboanga City and Iloilo to pick up cargoes and passengers.
The MILF said it is investigating whether the men were members. "We still don't know, but we are investigating the reports and if these are true then we will severely punish rogue members of the MILF."
"There are reports saying one of them is a rebel, the other is a civilian, and the third man is a village official. We don't know yet and we have to wait for the results of the investigation," he said.
Kabalu assured the government that the MILF is strictly observing the truce it signed in 2004.
Authorities were also investigating whether the trio had links with the Abu Sayyaf group tied to Jemaah Islamiya. The Abu Sayyaf had previously bombed a 10,000-ton Super Ferry 14 off the Manila Bay while it was heading for Bacolod in the central Philippines on February 27, 2004.
More than 100 passengers from the 900 people onboard were killed when a fire spread to the decks. The Abu Sayyaf group claimed responsibility soon after the incident, but the government initially dismissed the claim as a "propaganda ploy."
In March, however, a group of Abu Sayyaf members were arrested over the incident, including one man who allegedly confessed to planting the bomb.
The latest arrest coincided with earlier warnings of bombings during the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 in the United States. Authorities said the Abu Sayyaf would bomb civilian targets in Manila. The group has been blamed the Abu Sayyaf for some of the worst terror attacks in the country. (Sunnex)
(August 29, 2006 issue)
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