AFP braces for reprisal after Abu leader's death

MANILA, Philippines – The terror threat in Metro Manila remains very low but the military is intensifying its intelligence monitoring following the killing of one of the key leaders of the Abu Sayyaf bandit group during an encounter in Maimbung, Sulu last Sunday.

“We don’t have any confirmed terrorist threat here in Metro Manila but something bad might come up after Radaman as certain group might ride on the killing of Jumdail (Gafur Jumdailz),” a senior military intelligence official said yesterday.

Jumdail, one of the top Abu Sayyaf commanders, was killed in an assault staged by the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) on a terrorist lair in Maimbung, Sulu Sunday.

In a telephone interview, the intelligence official – whose unit is actively involved in anti-terror operations – also said yesterday’s bomb explosion in Sultan Kudarat and the other one in Cotabato Sunday evening may not be related to Jumdail’s death.

He said the explosions could be the handiwork by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in order to project strength for the Muslim secessionist movement, in preparation for the official resumption of the stalled peace talks.

“That has been always the case. Before the peace talks, many untoward incidents happen,” he said.

The government and the MILF have both expressed optimism that the stalled peace talks would be likely to happen after Radaman.

“That is why we are conducting continuous military intelligence and target hardening operations, especially in Metro Manila to avoid similar incidents from happening here. If they could this (bombing) in Mindanao, there is always that possibility that they also intend to do this in Metro Manila and in other urban centers,” he said.

As for the Abu Sayyaf, he said that given the opportunity, the homegrown terror group and its regional ally, the Jemaah Islamiyah have always longed to bring terror and mayhem in urban centers.

“It’s what they always want to happen. But for now, the threat coming from these terror groups is very low in Metro Manila,” he said.