Palace sees recapture of Al-Ghozi soon

After the recapture of suspected Abu Sayyaf bandit Omar Opik Lasal by the military last Wednesday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said they are now gearing up to get the bigger prize — convicted Indonesian bomber Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi.

PNP police community relations chief Director Ricardo de Leon yesterday said they are now coordinating with the military to get information from Lasal on Al-Ghozi’s possible whereabouts.

Al-Ghozi escaped together with Lasal and another Abu Sayyaf bandit Abdulmukim Edris from their detention cell at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame last July 14.

Edris was the first to fall into government hands but was killed after he supposedly grabbed the rifle of a soldier at a road checkpoint in Sultan Naga Dimaporo town in Lanao del Norte on Aug. 7.

Lasal, who carries a P2-million bounty, was recaptured at a checkpoint in the coastal town of Dumalinao in Zamboanga del Sur last Wednesday.

Only Al-Ghozi so far has remained elusive despite the massive manhunt efforts made by the government, which has tried to save face before the international community following the escape.

De Leon said they wanted to get some information from Lasal, now under the custody of the military’s Southern Command in Zamboanga City. "After the interrogation, it may be handled jointly or we can always request (for interrogation)," De Leon said.

The PNP also downplayed the capability of Al-Ghozi to stage any terror attack since his movement is only within Mindanao where government forces are now after him.

Al-Ghozi is an alleged senior leader of the Southeast Asian terror group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI).

The Indonesian fugitive is also on trial for allegedly staging a bomb attack on a Light Rail Transit (LRT) station in December 2000. He is also serving a 17-year jail term for illegal possession of explosives.

"But one thing certain, as far as Al-Ghozi is concerned, his movements are constricted. He is incapable of doing any harm as far as terroristic activities are concerned," De Leon said.

De Leon cited military intelligence reports that Al-Ghozi is still alive.

PNP deputy chief for operations Deputy Director General Virtus Gil said there is no assurance that Al-Ghozi will be recaptured soon despite the arrest of Lasal.

"There is no assurance at this time, it does not mean that since we now have Lasal, we are anywhere near Al-Ghozi. They have separated after their escape," Gil said.

Gil said that Lasal’s recapture was made possible by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who tipped off the military.

"It would appear that we made the arrest by chance but we were armed with information given by informants who knew when he (Lasal) would be passing through these checkpoints," he said.

As for Al-Ghozi, Gil said "he is still in Mindanao. There was a report that he went back to Indonesia and later returned to the Philippines. That report is not true." -With Mike Frialde, Jaime Laude