Thousands Of Blasting Caps Seized In Jolo Island

A naval ship used as command center by the military off Jolo island. (Juan Magtanggol)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Juan Magtanggol / 17 Aug) Soldiers seized thousands of blasting caps Thursday in the restive southern Philippine island of Jolo, where security forces are pursuing two Jemaah Islamiya bombers and members of the Abu Sayyaf group, blamed for the string of attacks against civilian and government targets, officials said.

Officials said soldiers seized 3,000 blasting caps from a ferry MV Evergreen bound for Tawi-Tawi island and another 3,000 blasting caps at the busy port of Jolo, said Lt. Col. Susthenes Valcorza, a spokesman for the military's Southern Command, said.

"Authorities were investigating whether the blasting caps are intended for the Abu Sayyaf or Jemaah Islamiya," he told the Zamboanga Journal.

Alkramer Izquierdo, the mayor of Jolo, said troops arrested a man believed to be the courier of the explosives. "He is being interrogated. We don't know the man's background or why he was carrying blasting caps," he said.

Valcorza said soldiers inspected the ferry and found no other explosives or bombs.

"Blasting caps are really dangerous and often used by terrorists as detonator for homemade bombs and explosives. It's good that we have recovered these blasting caps," Valcorza said.

The ferry left Zamboanga City late Wednesday and arrived in Jolo the next day to unload and pick up passengers and cargoes and then sail for Tawi-Tawi and back to Zamboanga.

"We have tightened our security in Zamboanga City and put up additional guards to prevent the smuggling or entry of weapons or explosives here," said Maj. Frank Clavecillas, port police commander.

He said he would organize a task force to protect both passengers and vessels in Zamboanga City against threats of terror attacks. "We have been conducting regular drills to enhance the capability of our forces in fighting terrorism and to protect the passengers and vessels inside the Zamboanga City port," he said.

Clavecillas said the task force would be composed by law enforcement agencies, including the military.

Last week, the military said it captured an Abu Sayyaf bomb factory in Jolo island and killed at least 11 militants in three weeks of fierce fighting that left 7 soldiers wounded.

Washington offered as much as $5 million bounty for known Abu Sayyaf leaders, including Khadaffy Janjalani, its chieftain. President Gloria Arroyo also put up P100 million rewards for the capture of the group's leaders and their members dead or alive.

Filipino troops are also hunting down Jemaah Islamiya leaders Umar Patek and Dulmatin, both linked to the 2002 Bali bombing and are believed to be with the group of Janjalani.