Military expects terrorists to avenge Abu Solaiman’s death

The military high command on Wednesday ordered troops in Mindanao to be on guard against possible attacks from al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group which will likely avenge the killing of one of its leader, Abu Solaiman. “With the death of Abu Solaiman, we expect that they would try to launch some retaliatory actions. However, we have instituted some actions so that the Abu Sayyaf group will not be able to carry out retaliatory actions," Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, said. Esperon said the Abu Sayyaf is now a weaker organization of around 350 men. He described Solaiman as the brains behind most of the atrocities of the Abu Sayyaf, including the May 2001 Dos Palmas resort kidnapping of 21 people that included three American nationals. Esperon said Solaiman also masterminded the kidnapping of Catholic priest Cirilo Nacorda and about 200 teachers and students in Sumisip and Tumahubong towns in Basilan in March 2000 and the siege of the Jose Torres Memorial Hospital in Lamitan town in Basilan on June 2001. Solaiman also planned a number of bombings in the South, including at a Malagutay training facility in Zamboanga City on October 2002 that resulted in the killing of several people, including a US serviceman. Solaiman has assumed the role as spokesman of the Abu Sayyaf following the death of Abu Sabaya in June 2002 and has claimed Abu Sayyaf responsibility in the February 2004 bombing of Superferry 14 off Manila Bay that left 200 people dead. It was also Solaiman who claimed responsibility for the 2005 Valentine’s Day bombings in General Santos City, Davao City and Makati City that resulted in the killing of eight people and scores others wounded. “I am also aware as a former commander in Basilan that Abu Solaiman was actually running the group that was collecting ransom money from their victims, from relatives of their victims (in Dos Palmas) who were then in Basilan," said Esperon. Apart from his inclusion in the US Department of Defense wanted list, Solaiman is also in the United Nation Security Council’s Sanctions Committee for his association with the al Qaeda terrorist network. Esperon also said Solaiman is “closely associated" with Jema’ah Islamiyah bombers Dulmatin and Omar Patek, both being pursued in Sulu, and MuaMiyah and Marwan, two other JI operatives believed to be operating in the country. An engineer by profession, Solaiman has three pending arrest warrants issued by the Isabela City regional trial court for his involvement in kidnapping and serious illegal detention, said Esperon. - GMANews.TV