Arroyo hails arrest of suspected al-Qaeda bagman

President Arroyo praised law enforcement authorities yesterday for their latest achievement - the arrest of the suspected local conduit of the al-Qaeda terror network in the country.

Mrs. Arroyo issued a statement expressing exhilaration over the capture of suspected al-Qaeda conduit Khair Malvan Mudos.

Combined agents of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Anti Terror Task Force under Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita presented Mudos before the media on Friday, a week after he was captured in Zamboanga City.

Mudos allegedly helped arrange the transfer of al-Qaeda funds to finance terror and bombing missions of the Abu Sayyaf, the PNP said.

"Once more, I commend the PNP and the Anti-Terrorism Task Force for another breakthrough in the government’s campaign against terror," the President said.

In the wake of the tension and violence generated by post-election controversies across the country, Mrs. Arroyo said law enforcement agencies have not lost focus in anti-terror efforts.

Despite having almost all the resources of the military and the police being tapped for election duties, Mrs. Arroyo said authorities have not lost the momentum in the fight against terrorism.

"Amidst the controversies of the moment, our vigilance does not sleep," she said.

Mrs. Arroyo said the continuing efforts to contain terrorism in the country has gone a long way with the capture of Mudos.

"I am confident that this most recent arrest will further cripple the Abu Sayyaf and its transnational tentacles within the JI and Al Qaeda," the President said.

Police said Mudos has been serving as one of the al-Qaeda contacts of Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khaddafy Janjalani in the Middle East to finance the operations of the terror group.

Mudos reportedly used his connections in the country and in the Middle East to funnel at least $89,000 to the Abu Sayyaf to buy explosives, speedboats and weapons.

Mudos reportedly broke down during interrogation and admitted funneling more than P3.5 million from al-Qaeda to the Abu Sayyaf to carry out kidnappings and bombing attacks in the country.

Among the attacks financed by this money was a bombing in Malagutay district in Zamboanga City in October 2002, which killed an American soldier training local counter-terrorist troops in the "Balikatan ’02" military exercises.

Mudos also financed other bombing attacks that same month that hit two department stores in the city, which killed seven people, and a bus terminal in Kidapawan City in Cotabato, killing seven.

Mudos also provided the funds to buy a speedboat and weapons for the Abu Sayyaf and delivered uniforms and equipment used in the kidnapping of 21 foreign and local tourists and hotel staff from the Malaysian resort island of Sipadan in 2000.

Police has tagged Mudos as the financier of bombing missions in Metro Manila where one incident succeeded in blasting a passenger bus in Balintawak, Quezon City on Oct. 18, 2002. Two bus passengers were killed in the bombing attack.