Abu Sayyaf threatens to attack Cebu - PNP

After the Rajah Sulaiman Movement, the Abu Sayyaf Group has also threatened to attack the country's major cities such as Cebu City based on information gathered by the regional police office.

Police Regional Operations and Plans Division chief Carmelo Valmoria yesterday issued a memorandum to all city and provincial police units implementing measures to thwart such terrorist plans.

ASG leader Khadaffy Janjalani has reportedly directed the group of a certain Alih Ismael and ordered the deployment of a team of diehard ASG members to conduct bombing operations in major cities nationwide. In his memorandum, Valmoria directed all city and provincial police units to intensify intelligence monitoring on the movement of ASG, and outline security measures in coordination with the military and other government agencies.

Outgoing regional police director Eduardo Gador has also confirmed the report, saying that the targets of the terrorists include the two bridges linking Mandaue City and Mactan Island.

Gador said that they even received a report that a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, with assistance from foreign "jihadists," is out to launch attacks on some malls in Cebu City, the Mactan bridges, sea vessels plying the Cebu-Mindanao routes, Abong-abong Park at Fort del Pilar in Zamboanga City, beach resorts in Palawan and churches in Baroy, Lanao del Norte.

The RSM had reportedly tried but failed to conduct bombings during the holding of the Southeast Asian Games last year and the recent Sinulog festival in the city.

Two RSM members, identified as Ali Usop, alias Datu Ismael Usop, and Datu Niel Ulama, alias Viktor Jimenez, were killed in a police operation last week. They were believed to have links with the ASG. - Gregg M. Rubio