At least five members of the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) terrorist group, including two Bali bombers, are hiding with Muslim extremists in Mindanao, a military official said Tuesday. “There may be more than five but so far, we have identified five of them,” said Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban, adding they are being sheltered by the Abu Sayyaf group in Jolo. “The Abu Sayyaf is protecting them because they cannot operate on their own in the Philippines,” said Sabban whose troops have been hunting the Abu Sayyaf band in the jungles of Jolo, Sulu, since August last year.
He said military intelligence confirmed the presence of the five JI members in Jolo but the only ones whose names were released were Indonesians, Dulmatin and Patek. Sources from the intelligence community said three more JI members entered the country through the southern backdoor early last year. The companions of Dulmatin and Patek, according to the marine general, trained members of Abu Sayyaf (ASG) in making powerful explosives. Sabban said the military stumbled on the information after a raid on an Abu Sayyaf camp in Tuburan Hills, Indanan town in Sulu. “When we captured the camp in Indanan . . . [we got] all of the materials they made for instructions and deployment of bombs,” Sabban said.
Sabban’s troops have been in the forefront of the military’s island wide campaign, called “Oplan Ultimatum,” to flush out Islamic extremist groups that have sought refuge in Sulu. “The operations have not ended . . . out troops in fact did not have their Christmas and New Year’s [breaks]. Operation is ongoing . . . there’s no let-up,” Sabban said. | "Why, they're practically surrounded!" |
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