BI heightens alert against foreign terrorists

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) yesterday heightened its vigilance against the possible entry of foreign terrorists into the country who may take advantage of the killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

The military, meanwhile, appealed to the public to help in locating Zulkifli Abdhir, a known member of the terror network cell of bin Laden believed to be hiding in the country and who has a P5-million bounty on his head.

BI spokesperson Ma. Antonette Mangrobang said Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. ordered Immigration officers and intelligence officers at the ports to “be doubly vigilant of foreigners who are listed in our derogatory records and in the same manner to conduct secondary inspection on foreigners who, in their assessment, are possibly involved in activities other than tourism or for any other legitimate reasons.”

She said they would be focusing on foreign nationals coming from the Middle East and countries that are known to be havens for terrorists. But she clarified they are not singling out any particular nationality.

Mangrobang stressed the need to be prepared even if there is no imminent threat amid reports that members of the Jemaah Islamiyah have previously entered the country via the southern backdoor.

Lt. Col. Randolf Cabangbang, spokesman of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said Abdhir, who is on the US Department’s most wanted lists since 2003, is a senior member of several criminal groups in the Southern Philippines with links to al-Qaeda.

Cabangbang said Abdhir uses aliases Marwan, Zulkifli Abd Hir and Zulkifli Bin Abdul Hir.  – With Roel Pareño, Jaime Laude