ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 30 Apr) Security forces are in heightened alert in the southern Philippines following intelligence reports of a possible bomb attack by the Southeast Asian terror network Jemaah Islamiya, officials said Sunday.
Police earlier sounded the alarm on possible attacks by Indonesian militants who are members of the Jemaah Islamiya on key cities in the southern region, Davao, General Santos, Koronadal and Zamboanga.
"We are in heightened alert. There are reports that JI is planning an attack on civilian targets. Security forces are in red alert and we appeal to citizens to report to authorities any suspicious person or abandoned package or bag in public places. We should stay vigilant," Lt. Col. Francisco Simbajon, spokesman of the Army's 4th Infantry Division based in northern Mindanao, told the Zamboanga Journal.
Simbajon said soldiers were also monitoring the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group and the New People's Army (NPA), which may also mount attacks. "The terrorist groups Abu Sayyaf and the New People's Army are also in top of our battle plan," he said.
Chief Supt. Florante Baguio, regional police chief, said he also ordered a tight security in northern Mindanao, particularly Cagayan de Oro City.” We are strengthening now our security in the region. Our policemen are now on alert," he said.
A police intelligence report identified the Indonesian militants as Jeya Ewal and six others were allegedly targeting Davao City; Siyah Muhar, with seven members, were tasked to mount bombing attacks in General Santos and Koronadal cities, and Abdul Muhamad and six others in Zamboanga City. Seven other Jemaah militants led by Basit Alharem were also planning an attack in the country's financial district in Makati City, it said.
Last month, Navy Adm. William J. Fallon, chief of the United States Pacific Command, tagged Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago in the southern Philippines as a sanctuary and recruiting and training grounds for terrorists.
"The southern Philippines, Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago remain a sanctuary, training and recruiting ground for terrorist organizations," he told US Senate Armed Services Committee.
Fallon said activities by terrorists and their supporters have been centered in the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia and that these countries are cooperating with the US.
Police earlier sounded the alarm on possible attacks by Indonesian militants who are members of the Jemaah Islamiya on key cities in the southern region, Davao, General Santos, Koronadal and Zamboanga.
"We are in heightened alert. There are reports that JI is planning an attack on civilian targets. Security forces are in red alert and we appeal to citizens to report to authorities any suspicious person or abandoned package or bag in public places. We should stay vigilant," Lt. Col. Francisco Simbajon, spokesman of the Army's 4th Infantry Division based in northern Mindanao, told the Zamboanga Journal.
Simbajon said soldiers were also monitoring the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group and the New People's Army (NPA), which may also mount attacks. "The terrorist groups Abu Sayyaf and the New People's Army are also in top of our battle plan," he said.
Chief Supt. Florante Baguio, regional police chief, said he also ordered a tight security in northern Mindanao, particularly Cagayan de Oro City.” We are strengthening now our security in the region. Our policemen are now on alert," he said.
A police intelligence report identified the Indonesian militants as Jeya Ewal and six others were allegedly targeting Davao City; Siyah Muhar, with seven members, were tasked to mount bombing attacks in General Santos and Koronadal cities, and Abdul Muhamad and six others in Zamboanga City. Seven other Jemaah militants led by Basit Alharem were also planning an attack in the country's financial district in Makati City, it said.
Last month, Navy Adm. William J. Fallon, chief of the United States Pacific Command, tagged Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago in the southern Philippines as a sanctuary and recruiting and training grounds for terrorists.
"The southern Philippines, Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago remain a sanctuary, training and recruiting ground for terrorist organizations," he told US Senate Armed Services Committee.
Fallon said activities by terrorists and their supporters have been centered in the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia and that these countries are cooperating with the US.
"With the cooperation of those nations, we have been building capacity and strengthening the ability of those countries to resist the activities of the terrorists and to actively seek their capture or demise," he said, adding, Southeast Asia remains the command's focal point in the war on terror.
He said winning the war of terrorism is his highest priority and to achieve that goal, the command is striving to eliminate the violence that now threatens the people and stability of the Asia-Pacific region. "We continue efforts to create a secure and stable environment," Fallon said.
Fallon said activities by terrorists and their supporters have been centered in the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia and that these countries are cooperating with the US.
"With the cooperation of those nations, we have been building capacity and strengthening the ability of those countries to resist the activities of the terrorists and to actively seek their capture or demise," he said.
He said the command is also working to mature joint and combined war fighting capability and readiness.
"Fundamental to success in the war on terror and continued stability in the Asia-Pacific region is our joint and combined war fighting capability and readiness," Fallon said. "As virtually every operation and activity is conducted jointly and in concert with allies, it is important that we train to operate more efficiently as a multinational team."
Fallon did not say what terrorist groups were operating in the southern Philippines, but Manila previously admitted that dozens of members of the Southeast Asian terror group Jemaah Islamiya, including Dulmatin and Pitono, linked to the deadly 2002 Bali bombings, were hiding in Mindanao island.
"With the cooperation of those nations, we have been building capacity and strengthening the ability of those countries to resist the activities of the terrorists and to actively seek their capture or demise," he said.
He said the command is also working to mature joint and combined war fighting capability and readiness.
"Fundamental to success in the war on terror and continued stability in the Asia-Pacific region is our joint and combined war fighting capability and readiness," Fallon said. "As virtually every operation and activity is conducted jointly and in concert with allies, it is important that we train to operate more efficiently as a multinational team."
Fallon did not say what terrorist groups were operating in the southern Philippines, but Manila previously admitted that dozens of members of the Southeast Asian terror group Jemaah Islamiya, including Dulmatin and Pitono, linked to the deadly 2002 Bali bombings, were hiding in Mindanao island.
Aside from the Jemaah Islamiya, the Abu Sayyaf group, implicated in the spate of bombings and kidnappings of foreigners in Mindanao, the NPA and renegade members of the local separatist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front, are also active in the southern Philippines. Both the Abu Sayyaf and the NPA are on a US list of terrorist organizations. (With a report from Ben Balce in Cagayan de Oro City)
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