"With our success in reducing the capability of the Abu Sayyaf through the neutralization of its key leaders, we are confident that the bandits’ chieftain, Khaddafy Janjalani, would fall soon," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said.
Bunye agreed with Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.’s statement that the capture of Janjalani would further decimate the Abu Sayyaf and cease being a national security threat.
Ebdane said the PNP is now training its guns on Janjalani "to deliver the final blow" against the bandit group.
"Janjalani is the only one holding the Abu Sayyaf bandits together, so we are certain that his neutralization would spell doom to this band of criminals and terrorists," Bunye said.
As this developed, representatives from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrived yesterday on a mission to interrogate a key Abu Sayyaf suspect tagged as among those who kidnapped American tourists at a posh resort in Palawan three years ago.
The Department of Justice (DOJ), on the other hand, is expediting the transfer of the Abu Sayyaf suspects now under detention while facing criminal charges in Mindanao.
The suspects will be transferred to join their detained comrades at Camp Ricardo Papa in Taguig.
President Arroyo herself expressed optimism that the terror reign of the al-Qaeda linked Abu Sayyaf is nearing its end with the unrelenting military offensive against them.
She noted its ranking leaders have been falling one by one, from its controversial spokesman Abu Sabaya who was killed by the military in June 2002 to the capture last December of Ghalib Andang, alias Kumander Robot.
Government troopers also killed Hamsiraji Sali, one of the top five Abu Sayyaf leaders, along with five other bandits in an encounter last week.
The President said the killing of Sali was a "major victory" in the government’s war against terrorism.
Authorities also foiled what it called a "Madrid-level" attack in Metro Manila with the arrest of six suspected Abu Sayyaf members late last month.
As Mrs. Arroyo announced the capture of the suspects, she also ordered the reward for the capture of Janjalani doubled to P10 million.
Police said they have mobilized all its intelligence units to track down Janjalani who is also wanted by the US government for the kidnapping and murder of its nationals.
Even as authorities tracked down the remaining leaders of the bandit group, three foreigners were snatched by suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen near Linkian Island in Sabah, Malaysia near the maritime border with the Philippines in the south.
The reported transnational abduction comes on the heels of a mass jailbreak led by members of the bandit group during Holy Week at the Basilan Provincial Rehabilitation Center in Isabela City.
Government forces are also hunting down the rest of the 53 prisoners who escaped from the Basilan provincial jail on Black Saturday.
Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño said criminal charges will also be filed against those responsible for the mass escape.
Zuño said a panel of prosecutors has been formed to conduct a speedy investigation on the jailbreak.
On the transfer of the Abu Sayyaf suspects, Zuño said there is "a strong justification" to transfer them from Basilan.
"We have to fast-track the transfer of the trial’s venue because it is very dangerous and the witnesses do not want to testify in Zamboanga. That is a strong justification of our request for transfer of venue anywhere in the National Capital Region," Zuño said.
On the other hand, the US government, through the FBI, sent its representatives to interrogate Alhamzer Manatad Limbong, alias Kumander Kosovo.
National Bureau of Investigation- International Police (NBI-Interpol) Division chief Ricardo Diaz said the US government is planning to borrow Limbong from the Philippine government to face trial there.
Diaz said the US government can invoke its right under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with the Philippines or pursue extradition proceedings.
Limbong was among the six arrested late last month for planning a "Madrid-type" bombing attack in Metro Manila. -With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Delon Porcalla, Aurea Calica