/ stevenwarran's Library/ Notes/ April 2 , 2004, The Philippine Star, Military: No torture of Sayyaf suspects, by Christina Mendez,
April 2 , 2004, The Philippine Star, Military: No torture of Sayyaf suspects, by Christina Mendez,
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April 2 , 2004, The Philippine Star, Military: No torture of Sayyaf suspects, by Christina Mendez,
Police debunked yesterday claims of abduction and human rights violations in the arrest of six suspected members of the extremist group Abu Sayyaf for allegedly plotting bombing attacks in Metro Manila.
President Arroyo also lashed back at the political opposition for saying she was playing up a major terror plot to justify the declaration of emergency rule and eventual scrapping of the May 10 elections to perpetuate herself in power.
"The opposition must never make terrorism a political issue. By doing this they are playing into the hands of evil," Mrs. Arroyo said.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Intelligence Group director Chief Superintendent Ismael Rafanan belied claims made by the wife of Walter Ancheta Villanueva, one of the six arrested suspects, that her husband was tortured to admit his involvement in a plot to carry out bombing missions in Metro Manila.
Hanah Villanueva, 29, claimed her husband is innocent of the charges, pointing out that they have a family business buying and selling motor vehicle spare parts.
But police officials stressed the couple had not met or seen each other since the arrest.
Officials stressed the suspects have been positively identified by witnesses and their arrests were covered by warrants of arrest.
"As far as the operational details are concerned, we are able to forestall their plans to launch attacks similar to (what happened to) Madrid," Rafanan said.
Rafanan also stressed police will not respond to any political insinuations regarding the arrests.
Director Robert Delfin, chief of the PNP directorate for intelligence, dismissed the claims and said it was a "normal reaction" for the relatives of any suspect once they are arrested and detained.
"They can say whatever they want. It is a normal reaction we get from them," Delfin said.
PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao said the PNP is ready to present any medical records to prove none of the six arrested suspects have been tortured.
Goltiao also dismissed the claims made by Maguindanao Rep. Didagen Dilangalen, senatorial candidate of opposition Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP), who said the arrests could actually be part of a plan to scrap the May 10 elections to keep Mrs. Arroyo in power.
"There is no basis (to say) that the recent arrests are part of a no-election movement. It is political," he said.
Goltiao also disclosed that the PNP is now considering the appointment of a spokesman for the government’s anti-terrorism campaign.
Mrs. Arroyo said the police operations against the six Abu Sayyaf suspects had "preempted a Madrid-level attack on the metropolis," comparing the alleged plot of the bandit group to the March 11 Madrid train bombings that claimed almost 200 lives.
Mrs. Arroyo stressed that being the incumbent president, she has to do her job of defending the nation against terrorism.
"They (the political opposition) are out of touch (with) the security needs of our nation," she said.
"It is my obligation to protect the people and I will stop at nothing to do so. If the opposition wants to waffle on defending the nation, they would do so at their peril, and at the peril of the average Filipino," the President said.
Mrs. Arroyo said the arrests of the six Abu Sayyaf suspects cannot be a political issue.
"The issue is not the elections, it is protecting the people. That is what I am doing, and that is what they should be supporting," she said.
Administration lawmakers Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay and Mayo Almario of Davao City said the disclosures of the arrests and the terror plot would just supplement the government's anti-terrorism drive.
"Filipino lives were saved without regard for their political color. The important thing is that government moved so no innocent blood was shed," Pichay said.
Almario, for his part, said "fighting terrorism is the concern of all."
"Instead of harping on the government's successful preemption of terror bombings, the opposition should be constructive and give the people its own program for greater national security."
On the other hand, Poe said he would do the same once elected.
"Just like what the government is presently doing," Poe told reporters in Pilipino when asked how he would address threats of terrorism under his administration.
But Poe echoed the fears of his partymates in the KNP about an alleged plot by Malacañang to hype up the terrorism threat to justify the scrapping of the May elections. "That can be a possibility," the actor said.
Disclosing The Threats
Despite the advice made by her security officials, Mrs. Arroyo announced the arrests on Tuesday, detailing how authorities uncovered a plot of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf to carry out terror attacks in Metro Manila.
Sources told The STAR yesterday that US advisers in the country prevailed upon Mrs. Arroyo to publicly announce the terror plot.
Sources said a recommendation from the US government itself to divulge the arrests prompted Mrs. Arroyo to make the announcements, citing "transparency."
The recommendation was confirmed by a US-trained terror expert. "It is part of the US policy to let the people know to increase vigilance among the public," the source said.
After the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, sources disclosed US security officials have shifted their strategy in reclassifying intelligence reports by releasing "some" of the gathered information with the aim of increasing public awareness and vigilance.
A top US counterterrorism official lauded the disclosure as part of the Philippines' efforts to stamp out terror.
William Pope, principal deputy coordinator at the US State Department’s Office of Counterterrorism, said the Philippines "has been a really important ally of the United States in the war on terror."
Pope, however, warned of another terror attack, particularly the possibility of putting bombs on ships plying Southeast Asian waters.
He said that it is likely that terrorists will use a crude nuclear explosive device or "radiological bomb" and set it off in a port city, in a shipping strait or waterway.
Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani also warned of a fresh wave of terror attacks in the capital despite the arrest of six of its members linked to a foiled bomb plot.
"The queue is long, we will not run out of bombers," Janjalani said.
"This is our global contribution to fulfill our obligation in defending Islam," another Abu Sayyaf leader, Abu Soliman, said.
The group issued several demands — the release of detained comrades as well as Islamic militants detained by the United States in Guantanamo, Cuba, the expulsion of Christians from all Muslim lands in the Philippines and foreign troops from the Arabian peninsula.
Military spokesman Lt. Gen. Daniel Lucero dismissed the claims.
Commenting on the Abu Sayyaf’s capability to mount "shaheed" or martyrdom operations, Lucero said one of the detained alleged bombers told police investigators that "they have not reached that level of ideological sophistication."
Lucero said the Abu Sayyaf, despite evidence that "they had received financial support" from the al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) groups in the past, had been mostly engaged in kidnappings and extortion.
Lucero, however, conceded it was "possible" that the Abu Sayyaf might be acting in exchange for aid from the JI or al-Qaeda.
US Special Forces advisers have been helping Filipino troops root out Abu Sayyaf units in the Muslim-populated southern Philippines, and Lucero said this could be forcing the bandits into relocating their sphere of operations.
"Because of the relentless operations in Basilan and Sulu there seems to be an environment of fear among (Abu Sayyaf) members," he said. — Marichu Villanueva, Nikko Dizon, AFP
Disclosing The Threats
Despite the advice made by her security officials, Mrs. Arroyo announced the arrests on Tuesday, detailing how authorities uncovered a plot of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf to carry out terror attacks in Metro Manila.
Sources told The STAR yesterday that US advisers in the country prevailed upon Mrs. Arroyo to publicly announce the terror plot.
Sources said a recommendation from the US government itself to divulge the arrests prompted Mrs. Arroyo to make the announcements, citing "transparency."
The recommendation was confirmed by a US-trained terror expert. "It is part of the US policy to let the people know to increase vigilance among the public," the source said.
After the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, sources disclosed US security officials have shifted their strategy in reclassifying intelligence reports by releasing "some" of the gathered information with the aim of increasing public awareness and vigilance.
A top US counterterrorism official lauded the disclosure as part of the Philippines' efforts to stamp out terror.
William Pope, principal deputy coordinator at the US State Department’s Office of Counterterrorism, said the Philippines "has been a really important ally of the United States in the war on terror."
Pope, however, warned of another terror attack, particularly the possibility of putting bombs on ships plying Southeast Asian waters.
He said that it is likely that terrorists will use a crude nuclear explosive device or "radiological bomb" and set it off in a port city, in a shipping strait or waterway.
Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani also warned of a fresh wave of terror attacks in the capital despite the arrest of six of its members linked to a foiled bomb plot.
"The queue is long, we will not run out of bombers," Janjalani said.
"This is our global contribution to fulfill our obligation in defending Islam," another Abu Sayyaf leader, Abu Soliman, said.
The group issued several demands — the release of detained comrades as well as Islamic militants detained by the United States in Guantanamo, Cuba, the expulsion of Christians from all Muslim lands in the Philippines and foreign troops from the Arabian peninsula.
Military spokesman Lt. Gen. Daniel Lucero dismissed the claims.
Commenting on the Abu Sayyaf’s capability to mount "shaheed" or martyrdom operations, Lucero said one of the detained alleged bombers told police investigators that "they have not reached that level of ideological sophistication."
Lucero said the Abu Sayyaf, despite evidence that "they had received financial support" from the al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) groups in the past, had been mostly engaged in kidnappings and extortion.
Lucero, however, conceded it was "possible" that the Abu Sayyaf might be acting in exchange for aid from the JI or al-Qaeda.
US Special Forces advisers have been helping Filipino troops root out Abu Sayyaf units in the Muslim-populated southern Philippines, and Lucero said this could be forcing the bandits into relocating their sphere of operations.
"Because of the relentless operations in Basilan and Sulu there seems to be an environment of fear among (Abu Sayyaf) members," he said. — Marichu Villanueva, Nikko Dizon, AFP
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