US embassy alert: Terrorist threat lingers in Mindanao
08/13/2007 | 07:07 AM
The United States government warned its citizens over the weekend against a continuing terrorist threat in Central Mindanao, particularly in Cotabato City.
In a warden notice dated Sunday (US time), the US Embassy said the threats may affect public places like bus terminals and shopping malls.
“As of mid-August there is a continuing terrorist threat in central Mindanao to include Cotabato City. The threat could affect such public places as bus terminals and shopping malls. US citizens should exercise extreme caution in central Mindanao," it said in its advisory (manila.usembassy.gov/wwwha008.html).
The US Embassy also advised citizens living and working in central Mindanao to “reassess their personal security and to keep a low profile."
It also advised Americans to avoid public gathering places.
Last Aug. 3, a twin explosion at a bus terminal in Koronadal City killed a Protestant minister and injured several other passengers.
On the other hand, Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said Sunday that two top Indonesian terror suspects were involved in deadly clashes in Mindanao last week.
Sun-Star Manila (www.sunstar.com.ph) reported Monday that Esperon claimed Umar Patek and Dulmatin provided help to Abu Sayyaf militants and other insurgents who killed 25 soldiers Thursday in a road ambush and subsequent fighting on the southern island of Jolo.
“We have a report that they (Patek and Dulmatin) were in the encounters," Esperon said but did not elaborate.
He added the two Indonesians would be among the insurgents troops hunt for in the next few days.
In the Aug. 3 bombing, the lone fatality was identified as Willy Boy Caritan, 31, a pastor of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches of the Philippines (Camacop) based in Panabo, Davao del Norte.
Caritan, a resident of Homeland Subdivision in Panabo, was reportedly waiting for his wife who just went to the comfort room when the explosion came.
In the second explosion, which burned the entire bus, its six passengers, driver and conductor were able to get out of the bus moments before the explosion.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office identified the injured passengers and bystanders as Jose Alo, Emmanuel Amlag, Danilo Montefrio, Miguel Espanol, Danilo Marcellana, Ryan Cainong, Jimmy Wili, Modesta Aujero, SPO2 Jerome Gazeta and Daisylyn Gazeta.
Olimpio Par, YBL operations manager, said the bomb was reportedly left near the package storage counter of the terminal’s arrival area.
Kiunisala admitted police had advance information on the bombing as the Al-Khobar criminal gang called up Yellow Bus Line management hours before the bombing to “collect."
He also said the group had sent earlier “warnings" to YBL management before Friday’s incident, adding that other buses of the firm were bombed last July 7 and July 18.
For decades, YBL, owned by the Yap family, dominated the Davao-GenSan-Koronadal route with their more than 50 fleets operating daily. The firm employs more than 200 workers.
Its employees recently filed a notice for a strike before the Labor Department.
On the other hand, Dulmatin and Patek have reportedly received sanctuary in Jolo from Abu Sayyaf commanders Radulan Sahiron and Umbra Jumdail.
Sahiron and Jumdail’s forces, along with Moro National Liberation Front guerrillas, killed the 25 soldiers.
Jumdail’s son and a key Sahiron aide were among those killed in Thursday’s clashes in Maimbung town in Jolo, Esperon said.
The two Indonesians are believed to be key operatives of the Jemaah Islamiyah terror network. They are subjects of a manhunt for allegedly masterminding the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings that killed 202 people.
They are believed to have fled in 2003 to Mindanao, where they provided bomb-making and religious training and helped plot attacks with local militants, according to the military.
Washington has offered a $10 million reward for Dulmatin’s capture and $1 million for Patek’s. - GMANews.TV
In a warden notice dated Sunday (US time), the US Embassy said the threats may affect public places like bus terminals and shopping malls.
“As of mid-August there is a continuing terrorist threat in central Mindanao to include Cotabato City. The threat could affect such public places as bus terminals and shopping malls. US citizens should exercise extreme caution in central Mindanao," it said in its advisory (manila.usembassy.gov/wwwha008.html).
The US Embassy also advised citizens living and working in central Mindanao to “reassess their personal security and to keep a low profile."
It also advised Americans to avoid public gathering places.
Last Aug. 3, a twin explosion at a bus terminal in Koronadal City killed a Protestant minister and injured several other passengers.
On the other hand, Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said Sunday that two top Indonesian terror suspects were involved in deadly clashes in Mindanao last week.
Sun-Star Manila (www.sunstar.com.ph) reported Monday that Esperon claimed Umar Patek and Dulmatin provided help to Abu Sayyaf militants and other insurgents who killed 25 soldiers Thursday in a road ambush and subsequent fighting on the southern island of Jolo.
“We have a report that they (Patek and Dulmatin) were in the encounters," Esperon said but did not elaborate.
He added the two Indonesians would be among the insurgents troops hunt for in the next few days.
In the Aug. 3 bombing, the lone fatality was identified as Willy Boy Caritan, 31, a pastor of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches of the Philippines (Camacop) based in Panabo, Davao del Norte.
Caritan, a resident of Homeland Subdivision in Panabo, was reportedly waiting for his wife who just went to the comfort room when the explosion came.
In the second explosion, which burned the entire bus, its six passengers, driver and conductor were able to get out of the bus moments before the explosion.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office identified the injured passengers and bystanders as Jose Alo, Emmanuel Amlag, Danilo Montefrio, Miguel Espanol, Danilo Marcellana, Ryan Cainong, Jimmy Wili, Modesta Aujero, SPO2 Jerome Gazeta and Daisylyn Gazeta.
Olimpio Par, YBL operations manager, said the bomb was reportedly left near the package storage counter of the terminal’s arrival area.
Kiunisala admitted police had advance information on the bombing as the Al-Khobar criminal gang called up Yellow Bus Line management hours before the bombing to “collect."
He also said the group had sent earlier “warnings" to YBL management before Friday’s incident, adding that other buses of the firm were bombed last July 7 and July 18.
For decades, YBL, owned by the Yap family, dominated the Davao-GenSan-Koronadal route with their more than 50 fleets operating daily. The firm employs more than 200 workers.
Its employees recently filed a notice for a strike before the Labor Department.
On the other hand, Dulmatin and Patek have reportedly received sanctuary in Jolo from Abu Sayyaf commanders Radulan Sahiron and Umbra Jumdail.
Sahiron and Jumdail’s forces, along with Moro National Liberation Front guerrillas, killed the 25 soldiers.
Jumdail’s son and a key Sahiron aide were among those killed in Thursday’s clashes in Maimbung town in Jolo, Esperon said.
The two Indonesians are believed to be key operatives of the Jemaah Islamiyah terror network. They are subjects of a manhunt for allegedly masterminding the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings that killed 202 people.
They are believed to have fled in 2003 to Mindanao, where they provided bomb-making and religious training and helped plot attacks with local militants, according to the military.
Washington has offered a $10 million reward for Dulmatin’s capture and $1 million for Patek’s. - GMANews.TV
