2 Basilan schools infiltrated by young Sayyaf members?

Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. asked Armed Forces chief Gen. Diomedio Villanueva yesterday to verify a report that young Abu Sayyaf members, who are currently "scholars" of international terrorist Osama bin Laden, have infiltrated two Claretian schools in Basilan.

There are four Claretian schools in Basilan, located in Tumahubong, Maluso, Lami—tan and the capital town of Isabela.

Magsaysay, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security, said he received a report that young Abu Sayyaf "warriors" are getting their education under the scholarship of Bin Laden’s global network.

The young Abu Sayyaf members, Magsaysay said, were reportedly fearless and daring and on some occasions, threatened Claretian missionaries by saying, "It needs one bullet to take you down."

The alleged scholars of Bin Laden are in high school, the senator said.

Earlier, there were reports identifying Bin Laden’s brother-in-law Mohammed Khalifa as providing scholarships and supporting the education in Basilan and in Metro Manila of "chosen" student-fighters of the Abu Sayyaf.

Lamitan parish priest Fr. Cirilo Nacorda, who has testified in the Senate on the alleged collusion between some military officers and Abu Sayyaf leaders, and the late Fr. Rhoel Gallardo, who was killed and tortured by the Abu Sayyaf, belonged to the Claretian order.

Magsaysay said the military should act on the report as part of the country’s anti-terrorism campaign, noting that the Abu Sayyaf and Bin Laden’s global network Al Qaida are on the United States’ list of terrorist organizations.

"The government must undertake all efforts to counter terrorism and ensure the security of our civilians. The terrorist threat is global and any reinforcement to this terrorist network must be traced and identified," the senator said.