Ex-Saudi envoy pressured PNP to free suspected terrorists

Diplomatic cables posted by online whistleblower WikiLeaks alleged that the United States Embassy in Manila warned the US State Department in May 2005 that the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia in Manila ‘pressured’ officials of the Philippine National Police to release Saudi nationals with alleged ties to terrorist groups. “(W)e see a disturbing trend involving the Saudi envoy and senior Philippine police and immigration officials," then US envoy to Manila Francis Ricciardone informed his superiors in Washington D.C. Ricciardone reported that “Al Sughayir, a known financier of al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah" was deported on January 17, 2005 after Ambassador Mohamed Amin Wali “successfully pressured the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP)." In his diplomatic cable, Ricciardone cited press reports and intelligence as his sources of information on the Al Sughayir case. “In another case, GRP officials arrested Abdullah Nasir Al-Arifi in March 2005 upon arrival in Manila from Saudi Arabia following identification of his name on an Interpol list of suspected terrorists, again according to press reports and intelligence," Ricciardone said. 'Similarly interceded' “Wali similarly interceded to take direct custody of Al-Arifi, who was then deported back to Saudi Arabia," the US envoy added. Ricciardone also said the PNP arrested another Saudi national, identified in the cable as Talhi, for immigration violations, but was soon released. Ricciardone told the US State Department that “after a dinner meeting with Saudi Ambassador Mohammed Ameen Wali on May 2, PNP Chief Lomibao ordered the PNP to turn Talhi over to the BI and that Wali then convinced BI Commissioner Alipio Fernandez to sign the deportation order handing over custody to the Saudi Embassy." The US envoy pointed to reports which “indicate Tahli may have terrorist finance links and is associated with (Cotabato) Mayor Sema." Ricciardone relayed information sourced from a PNP official, who told the embassy that Ambassador Wali "typically" uses the presence of about one million overseas Filipino workers in the KSA as leverage in dealing with the Filipino officials. — ELR/VS, GMA News