Southcom ready for operation vs Janjalani

JOLO, Sulu - Armed Forces Southern Command (Southcom) chief Maj. Gen. Gabriel Habacon said the military is ready to launch an operation to arrest an elusive al- Abu Sayyaf leader and two operatives of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) believed to be behind the 2002 Bali bombing, following reports of their presence in this island province.

Habacon said the intelligence operatives are also validating unconfirmed reports that Abu Sayyaf leader Khadaffi Janjalani and JI operatives Dulmatin and Umar Patek are planning to attack the US troops conducting humanitarian mission in Sulu.

"There are persistent reports from our intelligence operatives regarding the sightings of the subject personalities," Habacon said.

"I told them to firm up their reports and submit it and we are ready to run after those terrorists," Habacon added.

However, he said that until now the military has made no real sightings of the three terrorists wanted by the Philippine and US governments for kidnapping and bombings.

Commander-in-chief of the Pacific Command Admiral William Fallon, who was here to assess its security assistance extended to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, gave assurances that they are working closely with the military here to provide security for the civilians and isolate the terrorists. — Roel Pareño