Following Entry Posted 1/02/2007 09:47:00 AM

Bali Bombers in Philippines

While authorities are examining the suspected remains of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader Khadaffy Janjalani, his homicidal buddies are still plotting harm in the jungles of the Philippines.

From The Australian:

AT least five members of the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) terrorist group, including two Bali bombers, are hiding with Muslim extremists in the southern Philippines, a military official said today.

"There may be more than five but so far, we have identified five of them," Brigadier General Juancho Sabban said, adding they were being sheltered by the Abu Sayyaf group in Jolo, a southern Philippine island.

"The Abu Sayyaf is protecting them because they cannot operate on their own in the Philippines," Mr Sabban said.

He said his troops had been hunting the Abu Sayyaf band in the jungles of Jolo since August last year, and 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 - wanted for assembling and detonating bombs in nightclubs in the Indonesian island resort of Bali in 2002, killing more than 200 including 88 Australians.

From another source, it's reported that "aside from Umar Patek and Dulmatin, six more JI members -- five Indonesian and a Malaysian -- were scattered in the provinces, fighting side-by-side with local bandits."

Meanwhile, the military said Friday it is deploying an extra 1,500 soldiers in Jolo Island to speed up the hunt for two Bali bombing suspects hiding there.

The three battalions will start arriving on the island from other areas of the country Saturday to augment some 6,000 soldiers already there, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Armed Forces chief, told reporters.

The US government has offered bounties totaling $11 million for fugitive JI operatives Dulmatin and Patek.

Up to $1 million reward is offered for Umar Patek, aka Umar Kecil and others. He's 36 years old, 5-foot, 5-inches tall and weighs about 135 pounds. Runtish yet deadly.

Up to $10 million reward is offered for Dulmatin, aka Amar Usman and others. He's in his mid to late 30s, just under 5-foot, 8-inches tall and weighs 154 pounds. Not a giant either.

Obviously, JI and Abu Sayyaf are closely tied to al-Qaeda and all are simply thug Muslim terrorists despite what they call themselves. They need eradication. Let's hope the Filipino authorities fulfill their needs.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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