March 27, 2005, The Philippine Star, US warns of ‘multiple’ terror attacks in RP, by Jose Katigbak,

March 27, 2005, The Philippine Star, US warns of ‘multiple’ terror attacks in RP, by Jose Katigbak, STAR Washington Bureau,

WASHINGTON — Al-Qaeda-linked groups and the radical arm of the largest Muslim separatist rebel organization in the Philippines are planning to stage "multiple" attacks throughout the archipelago, the United States has warned.

The warning issued by the US State Department on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) advised Americans to "consider carefully the risks of travel to the Philippines."

The updated travel advisory named the "terrorist groups" as the Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), the local extremist group Abu Sayyaf and renegade rebels of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) — both based in Mindanao.

After similar advisories from Britain and the US, Australia followed suit last week in cautioning its citizens against traveling to the Philippines.

A new public announcement issued by Canberra’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also cited that "extremist groups" such as the Abu Sayyaf and MILF operate in the country, while persistent reports point to brewing terror acts.

"Reports suggest that terrorists may be in the final stages of planning an attack. Attacks could occur at any time, anywhere in the Philippines," said the advisory, which was similar to what the British Embassy in Manila had said earlier when warning its citizens of such assaults.

The MILF, for its part, was quick to deny it was plotting any terror attacks, and said it was actually looking forward to the resumption of peace talks with the Philippine government in Malaysia next month.

"There is a policy statement from the MILF leadership for all members to turn their backs on other groups" such as the Abu Sayyaf and JI, MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu told Agence France Presse by telephone from his base in Mindanao.

Kabalu pointed out there is an ongoing "ceasefire" with government forces.

"We don’t know what is the basis for this advisory," he said.

The US State Department travel advisory warned against "all but essential travel throughout the country in light of a heightened threat to westerners."

It said travelers should be aware that since security has increased at official US facilities, terrorists could seek softer targets.

"Such targets could include but are not limited to places where Americans and other westerners live, congregate, shop or visit, including hotels, clubs, restaurants, shopping centers, identifiably western businesses, housing compounds, transportation systems, places of worship, schools, or public recreation events," the advisory stated.

Britain highlighted the "high threat" of terrorism "throughout the Philippines" in its latest advisory.

"There continues to be threats against western interests and there is a danger of collateral damage from terrorist attacks targeted at others," it said.

Australia, on the other hand, also warned its nationals to be alert to the dangers of kidnapping in the Philippines, advising them to defer all travel to the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Sulu archipelago, including Basilan, Jolo and Tawi-Tawi.

Military sources in Manila said some 10 JI and Abu Sayyaf militants were on the loose and could hit targets across the Philippines after authorities uncovered a plot to bomb "soft targets" in the capital over Easter.

Philippine security forces have been bracing for retaliatory attacks by the Abu Sayyaf since a foiled jailbreak in Taguig City last March 14 that left 22 Muslim detainees dead, including three ranking Abu Sayyaf leaders.

Some 15,000 police officers were deployed across the metropolis to guard vital installations while personnel were on guard at churches around the predominantly Catholic country.

In Indonesia, where Easter is also a holiday although it is the world’s largest Muslim-populated country, police said they were hunting up to 20 Indonesian graduates of a JI training camp in the Philippines believed to have returned home to carry out attacks.

The JI has been blamed for the October 2002 Bali bombings in which 202 people died, in addition to deadly attacks on a Jakarta hotel in 2003 and a blast outside the Australian embassy in September last year.

Japan and Hong Kong, meanwhile, have also advised their citizens to exercise caution when traveling to the Philippines and Indonesia, or to stay away completely amid a heightened risk of attack and kidnapping.

Many US-based Filipinos were surprised at the extent of the area covered by the US travel warning – the entire Philippines.

Previous warnings had been careful to specify the risk of travel "in certain areas" due to kidnappings, bombings and other violence and criminal activity.

The travel warnings from different countries come after the arrest of two extremists from JI and the Abu Sayyaf earlier this week and the seizure of 10 sacks of explosives in Quezon City.

One of the detainees, an Indonesian alleged bomb maker identified as Rohmat, told reporters after his arrest that the Abu Sayyaf were plotting major attacks in the southern cities of Davao and Cagayan de Oro in addition to Manila.

Rohmat also confessed he was given shelter by the MILF when he was on the run from authorities.

Kabalu admitted this was possible, adding they were investigating the Indonesian’s revelation.

"We will try to get to some details from the negotiating panel," he said.

A recent US report said that despite repeated denials by the MILF, evidence shows it has strong links with JI and provides the Indonesian terror group training facilities in its area of control in Mindanao.

The MILF, however, stressed it is sincere about entering into peace talks with the government.

To further dispel suspicions of ties with the JI, Kabalu said MILF commanders had been told to "weed out and hold responsible" rogue members of the group who may shelter or provide sanctuary to foreign militants who may jeopardize the peace process. — With reports from AFP, Pia Lee-Brago