AFP eases US apprehensions on terrorism

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The military sought to assuage US fears about its counter-terrorism operations in the southern Philippines yesterday as it played up measures being undertaken to flush out al-Qaeda-linked local militants.

Armed Forces Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza gave the assurance following a statement by outgoing US Chargé d’ Affaires Joseph Mussomeli that foreign Muslim militants remained in Mindanao despite the sustained military offensive.

Braganza said efforts to neutralize the Indonesian-based Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and its local counterpart, the bandit Abu Sayyaf group, were ongoing.

"Troops continue to comb the mountains and jungle areas where the Abu Sayyaf, with some suspected JIs, escaped in the mountains of Talayan and South Upi towns in Maguindanao," Braganza said.

He said troops managed to isolate the terrorists to a certain area and prevent the armed skirmishes from spilling over to populated areas.

Braganza said the US military had been a big help in providing technical assistance and training to the Filipino soldiers for the country’s counter-terrorism campaign.

Braganza also cited the cooperation extended by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front which assisted government forces in tracking down the bandits, who are led by Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khaddafy Janjalani, in their areas.

There were reports that one of Janjalani’s henchmen and the leader of the group’s urban terrorist group, Jainal Antel Sali alias Abu Solaiman, was wounded in a recent encounter with the military.

The Southern Command also cited the recent arrests of suspected terrorists who were caught casing possible bombing targets.

Braganza cited the recent arrest of Alex Kahal, one of the principal suspects in the Malagutay district bombing in October 2002 that also killed a visiting US serviceman and wounded more than 70 civilians.

"Mindanao is generally peaceful and pockets of atrocities have not been reported for quite a long period of time," Braganza said.

"The terrorists are on the run and the combined efforts of police and military (are) continuously sustain(ed) with the civilians’ vigilance," Braganza added.

Mussomeli had earlier courted controversy by claiming Mindanao could become another Afghanistan if the military did not intensify its efforts to flush out JI members and other terrorist elements. — Roel Pareño