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Cotabato is the entry point for terrorists into the Philippines
BASED ON US intelligence, Cotabato is being used as a "doormat" for terrorists, outgoing US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone said yesterday.Ricciardone said this to explain the US decision to suspend a road project that would traverse Cotabato City, and which was to be launched last month. "Cotabato has been becoming a gateway for investment and trade, and business of all legitimate source. But in recent months, we've also heard that it is being used as a doormat by some killers," Ricciardone said during the Foreign Correspondents' Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) press conference in Makati City. Ricciardone's three-year tour of duty in the Philippines will end on May 13. "We think we better get a grip on that because we need to understand what's going on down there and make sure that these evil people cannot use Cotabato," he added. Ricciardone further said: "Put it this way, we don't want to these people will use in coming in and out of Cotabato. We want to build a road that farmers and business people and truck drivers, tricycle drivers, and taxi drivers will use to get rich and prosper. We don't want to build a road that's going to make it easier for bombers to sneak in and out in the dead of night and elude the Armed forces of the Philippines." Ricciardone also said that Washington was still trying to "identify the real" Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). "We are still wondering why some MILF leaders would talk about peace and development on one hand but on the other, there are others still communicating with world class murderers," he said. Ricciardone said Washington was trying to identify those who are supporting the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist group and Abu Sayyaf leader Khaddafy Janjalani. Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema recently led an "indignation rally" against the United States as a result of the deferment of the road project. Michael Yates, Philippine Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), had written Sema a letter informing the mayor of the project's suspension allegedly because international financiers of terrorists are reportedly passing through Cotabato City, with the mayor's supposed "knowledge and support." Yesterday, however, Ricciardone said the mayor could also be unaware of the reported activities of terrorists and their supporters. "I think Mayor Sema does not really know, nor do I think people in Cotabato as well," Ricciardone said. The US ambassador also gave an assurance that the road project would not be cancelled. He also praised the recent developments in the peace talks between the Arroyo administration and the MILF. There have been unverified claims that Washington is set to include MILF leaders in its list of terrorists. Posted by: Dan Darling 2005-05-12 |
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