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Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Manila claims JI rigged YBL bombs
By Ben O. Tesiorna and Aquiles Z. Zonio
DAVAO CITY -- Friday's twin explosion inside the Yellow Bus Line (YBL) terminal in Koronodal City is not an extortion activity perpetrated by the Al Khobar Group, police authorities in Metro Manila claimed, saying that what happened was actually a terrorist act.
The claim that the bombing was an act of terror and not just extortion came after the arrest of an alleged member of the international terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) in Metro Manila a few hours after Friday's bus explosion in Koronadal.
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Southern Police District (SPD) Director Roberto Rosales identified the suspect as Kaharudin Usman Talib alias Kasalud, who is said to be a Filipino operative of the Southeast Asian regional terrorist network JI.
SPD policemen arrested Talib after a brief chase inside SM Bicutan mall at 3 p.m. on August 3. Rosales said Talib, who has admitted involvement in the planned bombing, is taking orders from JI leaders in the country.
Rosales said they saw text messages from Talib's cellphone -- recovered in his safe house -- coming from JI operative Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan and Basit Usman, who is said to be a leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front-Urban Bombing Squad.
Rosales described Talib as the right-hand man of Bin Hir and Usman.
The text message of Usman directed the arrested suspect to rush up with the planning stage. "Hurry up with our plans there, lets include Manila, Davao, and General Santos," read the text message, which was received 9:08 p.m. of Friday.
Usman's text informed the suspect of an attack in Koronadal City earlier last Friday. The attack resulted in several casualties.
Eastern Mindanao Command spokesperson Major Randolph Cabangbang, however, asserted that Friday's bombing in Koronadal was the handiwork of the extortionist group Al Khobar and not of JI.
Cabangbang said the owner of YBL bus himself admitted that it was Al-Khobar behind the bombing as the group even demanded P2 million from them.
He added that findings from the explosive ordnance division (EOD) showed the bomb signature of Al-Khobar. The JI has a different signature and JI never demanded money they just launched bombings.
"Al Khobar and JI are not the same group. JI bomb is more sophisticated. JI are extremists while Al Khobar is extortionist," he added.
The arrest of Talib came amid intelligence operations in the wake of a military report that JI and local Muslim rebels, acting on orders from Bin Hir, were planning to bomb selected targets in Manila, Rosales said.
In Koronadal City, a man who claimed to be the leader of Al-Khobar terror and extort gang claimed responsibility for the twin bombings that killed one and injured 12 others in Koronadal City on Friday.
In an interview aired over Bombo Radyo in Koronadal City Tuesday, the Al-Khobar gang leader also owned up the two other bomb attacks against the YBL Inc. on July 7 in Koronadal and July 18 in Tacurong City.
The group's leader said they carried out the bombings to compel the YBL management to give in to their P2 million demand for protection money.
In the same interview, the group leader further claimed that they have an insider, which is why it is easy for them to carry out bomb attack against the YBL firm.
He claimed their members include Muslims and Christians, even former members of the police and military.
Meanwhile, Taguig City Mayor Freddie Tinga on Tuesday ordered stepped-up security measures in the city following the arrest of Talib.
Particular attention will be given to government installations and offices, shopping malls, bus terminals and other places where people tend to congregate, he added.
“One arrest does not mean the problem is solved. The situation requires vigilance on our part, as well as being pro-active in our anti-terrorist measures,” Tinga said.
He appealed to the public for more help in providing authorities with information regarding the presence of criminals and suspected terrorists in their localities.
Taguig City Police Director Alfred Corpuz said they have already intensified police visibility in public areas as well as intelligence-gathering operations to preempt any terrorist attack. (With AH/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (August 8, 2007 issue)
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