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| Southeast Asia | |
| Philippines military recovers explosives, improvised bombs | |
| 2005-03-23 | |
| MANILA -- Security officials said Wednesday they have confiscated 10 sacks of explosives in an abandoned house in Quezon City in follow-up operations to Tuesday's arrest of a suspected Muslim militant. A military statement said suspected militant Tyrone Dave Santos, leader of the Rajah Solaiman movement of Muslim converts that is suspected of links to the Abu Sayyaf extremist group, was arrested on Tuesday. His arrest led to follow-up operations on Wednesday that resulted in the seizure of at least 10 sacks of explosives, 18 canisters of improvised bombs, a personal computer, and a video camera in a house in Fairview district, the statement said. The improvised bombs were hidden in sardine cans and were filled with nails and powdery substance that was being examined by experts, said police Superintendent Roger James Brillantes. Armed Forces of the Philippines National Capital Region Command Chief Allan Cabalquinto said the explosives cache could have been intended for bombings of "soft targets" this Holy Week. Some of the sacks contained ingredients in the manufacture of trinitrotoluene (TNT), a powerful bomb, added the military official. The military begged off from giving further details during a press briefing Wednesday afternoon to avoid jeopardizing the ongoing military and police operations against Abu Sayyaf militants. Intelligence officials have warned that the Abu Sayyaf, hurt by a US-backed crackdown in recent years, has strengthened alliances with local bandits, Muslim converts and militants from al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah. Soldiers and police have beefed up security in the capital following a threat by the Abu Sayyaf to avenge the deaths of 23 inmates, most of them suspected Abu Sayyaf members, killed by police in a botched jailbreak last week. Indonesian terror suspect Rohmat, who was arrested in connection with bombings last month that killed eight people in three cities, said Wednesday the leader of the Abu Sayyaf group had ordered bomb attacks in Manila and the southern Mindanao region during this week's Easter break. Rohmat, like many Indonesians, uses a single name.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Avelino Razon Jr. and other police officials have been going around Metro Manila to make sure that security measures are in place in crowded areas like churches, bus terminals, airports and seaports, train stations, parks, shopping malls and other "potential targets" of the bandits. Razon said police visibility in Metro Manila has also been intensified. About 15,000 policemen and soldiers have been deployed in various areas in Metro Manila to ensure an uneventful observance of the Holy Week. The military units in Metro Manila, including the major services--Army, Navy, and Air Force--will augment the police during this period. | |
| Posted by:Steve |