Troops Continue Hunt For Sayyaf, JI bombers In Jolo Island

A mosque is silhouetted by the rising sun in Jolo Island in the southern Philippines. Jolo Island in the Sulu Archipelago has many beautiful and pristine beaches, but is also equally dangerous to travelers because of the worsening peace and order situation and the presence of Abu Sayyaf terrorists and bandits, blamed for the spate of killings and kidnappings. (Juan Magtanggol)

JOLO ISLAND (Juan Magtanggol / 19 Aug) Government soldiers continue Saturday hunting for leaders of the Filipino terroprist group Abu Sayyaf and two Jemaah Islamiya militants tagged as behind the 2002 Bali bombings in Indonesia, officials said.

"We are still tracking down the terrorists -- the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya -- and the hunt is centered on the mountains of Indanan and Patikul towns. Our operation is relentless and we will get them dead or alive," said Brig. Gen. Alexander Aleo, commander of military forces in Jolo island, about 950 km south of Manila.

The Philippine military on Friday tightened security in Jolo island a day after troops seized 6,000 Indian blasting caps believed owned by the Abu Sayyaf group.

Aleo said a man, Mujahiri Malik, who was allegedly transporting the explosives was arrested, but his companion, a woman, had escaped and is being hunted by security forces. Security forces seized 3,000 blasting caps from a ferry in Jolo and another 3,000 blasting caps left on a pedicab at the busy port of Jolo, he said.

"We suspect these explosives belonged to the Abu Sayyaf. We smell terrorism here," he said.

Aleo said the blasting caps were similar to what the Abu Sayyaf had used in previous bombings in Jolo and Zamboanga City. "They are similar to what the Abu Sayyaf had used in the past; the bombings in Jolo and Zamboanga. They also have the same markings and all made in India," he 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.

Aleo said troops were pursuing Jemaah Islamiya bombers Dulmatin and Umar Patek believed to be with the group of Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani.

There were no reports of fresh clashes in Jolo, but Aleo said at least 11 Abu Sayyaf militants were previously killed in three weeks of fierce clashes that also left 7 soldiers wounded.

Port authorities in Zamboanga City also tightened its security to prevent the entry of weapons and explosives.

Aleo said they captured an Abu Sayyaf bomb factory in Jolo island and recovered homemade explosives and weapons.

The United States offered as much as $10 million bounty for Dulmatin and $1 million for Patek's capture and another $5 million 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. Both Patek and Dulmatin were linked to the 2002 Bali bombing.