GMA vows to finish off Sayyaf

President Arroyo vowed yesterday to finish off the Abu Sayyaf and tighten security alliances with the country’s neighbors and the United States.

"We are resolved to work with our strategic allies in the region and with the United States to tighten the dragnet and stop the movement of terrorists, their finances and their deadly materiel across the seas and borders," Mrs. Arroyo said.

In a statement at the opening of the command conference at the Department of National Defense at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Mrs. Arroyo lauded the Armed Forces for the killing of Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Solaiman, whose real name is Jainal Antel Sali Jr., during a firefight in Sulu on Tuesday.

"The milestone in the campaign against terror caps with glory the signing of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Convention on Counter Terrorism" in Cebu last week, the statement said.

The President said the Philippines has a stake in a safer world and in an East Asian region that builds shared prosperity on stability and peace.

Solaiman, 41, left a legacy of lethal attacks and kidnappings, putting him on the US and Philippine list of most wanted criminals.

After years of tracking Solaiman, US-backed Army special forces cornered him and other Abu Sayyaf bandits in Talipao, Sulu.

Troops overran a rebel camp and a three-hour gun battle resulted in the killing of Solaiman and two other guerrillas while two soldiers were wounded.

President Arroyo noted that the relentless pressure government forces applied in its operations against the Abu Sayyaf and the Indonesian-based Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) in the field are taking its toll on the terror groups.

More that 5,000 Army troops and Marines have joined the offensive operations dubbed as Oplan Ultimatum that started on Aug. 1, 2006 in Patikul, Sulu, against the Abu Sayyaf militants led by Khadaffy Janjalani. The rebels are protecting Indonesian JI members Dulmatin and Umar Patek, both wanted for the October 2002 bombings in Bali, Indonesia that killed 202 people.

US Ambassador Kristie Kenney attributed the killing of Solaiman to the strong partnership of the Philippines and the US in the fight against terrorism.

"Its a tremendous partnership. But I do want to emphasize that an international terrorist was killed thanks to the talent of the Philippine troops," Kenney said.

She said local troops are succeeding in the anti-terror campaign in Sulu because they are now equipped with better intelligence, planning and equipment.

Mrs. Arroyo said government forces will keep up the military pressure until all the terrorists and their clandestine cells are neutralized.

"This government is determined to finish the job with a hand of steel against evil and to usher in a durable peace through economic development, interfaith dialogue and international cooperation," she said.

In signing the Convention on Counter Terrorism, the 10 ASEAN nations vowed to strengthen cooperation on the following:

• Preventing the commission of terrorist acts, including giving early warnings through exchange of information;

• Preventing those who finance, plan and facilitate or commit terror activities from using their respective territories to stage attacks in another country;

• Prevent the movement of terror suspects or groups through effective border controls and controls on the issuance of identity papers and travel documents;

• Promote capacity-building, trainings and the holding of regional meetings;

• Promote public awareness and participation in counter-terrorism and enhance interfaith dialogues;

• Enhance cross-border cooperation and intelligence exchange;

• Enhance existing cooperation towards developing regional databases;

• Undertake research and development on measures to combat terrorism;

• Encourage the use of video conferencing or teleconferencing for court proceedings; and

• Ensure that those involved in terrorism are brought to justice.

• Strengthening the capability and readiness to deal with chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, cyber-terrorism and any new forms of terrorism.

The convention also includes mutual legal assistance among the regional bloc’s governments in connection with investigations of acts of terror.

ASEAN members, in conformity with their respective laws, will extend the widest possible assistance in connection with investigations or criminal proceedings regarding terrorist activities.

The document also made it easier for ASEAN governments to request the extradition of terror suspects even without an extradition treaty. The convention, the draft said, could be invoked in requesting extradition.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita earlier described the successful operation in Sulu as "the effective collateral effect" of the RP-US Balikatan joint military exercises.

He said US forces have been providing technical intelligence to government troops hunting Abu Sayyaf and JI militants in Mindanao.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., likewise, cited the RP-US military exercises as a major factor in the killing of Solaiman.

"Of course their (Filipino troops) constant exposure to exercises, meaning Balikatan, certainly helps the skills of our soldiers. That’s what we get from Balikatan, constant training, upgraded skills and even some equipment," Esperon said.

Kenney also explained that the US Embassy will coordinate with Philippine authorities regarding the $5 million reward that the US government has offered for the capture of Solaiman, dead or alive. It is not yet clear who will get the reward.

"That’s the next step which is a little bit more complicated. We will be working on that with Philippine authorities. It will take a little bit longer as we sort out where, how, what," she added.

Executive director Vicente Aquino of the Anti-Money Laundering Council said the failure of the Philippines to pass the anti-terrorism law is hampering efforts to detect and restrict the cross-border flow of suspected funds of terror groups.

"We still do not have an anti-terrorism law. There is really an urgent need for us to have an anti-terrorism law to enable us to be effective in not only combating terrorism but also the financing of the commission of terror acts," he said.

Aquino said the proposed bills in the House and the Senate seek to give the AMLC the authority to freeze suspected terror funds and take preventive measures that could stop terror attacks.

"Why should we wait until people are killed and properties are destroyed before we can block such financing?" he asked. - Jaime Laude, AP