September 25, 2001, The Philippine Star, Military Confirms Existence of Sayyaf Cell in Metro Manila, by Cicero Alano, J

September 25, 2001, The Philippine Star, Military Confirms Existence of Sayyaf Cell in Metro Manila, by Cicero Alano, Joshua Dancel and Dante Mendoza and Paolo Romero

As reprinted from the Manila Meteor /The Philippine Star dtd 25 Sept 2001

Mohammad Faisal Ijajil Dompol, officer of the Abu Sayyaf extremist group as presented to the media by Maj Gen Artemio Tecson following his arrest in Manila. Ijajil, tagged as the head of the Manila cell of the bandit group and carries a P1-million reward for his capture.

CONFIRMED: The Abu Sayyaf bandit group has an active cell in Metro Manila.

Maj Gen Artemio Tecson, vice commander of the Army, made this confirmation yesterday after the arrest of Mahammad Faisal Dompol Ijajil, said to be the leader of the Manila-based Abu Sayyaf.

In the Senate, Sen. Gregorio Honasan also revealed that an Islamic Command Council put up by Taliban missionaries in the early 1980’s could be the link that terrorist Osama bin Laden has been using to operate in Mindanao.

He said his intelligence network in Mindanao has told him that the (ICC) could be consolidating retaliatory actions against the government for supporting the Americans against its main benefactor.

“There is an active cell of the extremist group currently operating in Metro Manila,” Tecson said as he presented Ijajil to media people in Camp Aguinaldo.

Ijajil, who carries a P1-million reward on his head, was arrested by operatives of the Army and police intelligence group after weeks of surveillance.

“Together with Mumar Asanin, they are particularly concerned with the maintenance of the Manila-Basilan Abu Sayyaf material pipeline as well as the collection of intelligence in the metropolis,” Tecson said.

Ijajil used to be known as Espital Ijajil when he was a student. In 1991, he changed his name when he joined the Tableegh, an informal organization of Islamic religious leaders.

He joined the group of Barahama Sali, a Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf in 1994. He also participated in the Ipil raid in 1995.

Tecson said Ijajil had been to the Middle East on several occasions allegedly on a Tableegh mission from September, 1994 to January, 1995. He went to Raiwan, Lahur, Pakistan and stayed at Matkaj mosque in Raiwan. From May to July, 1999 he went to Bangladesh, and then to Pakistan.

According to Honasan, the ICC was put up early in the 1980’s after bin Laden established his al-Qaida dissident Muslim group with the Talibans of Afghanistan.

“Shortly after Bin Laden put up his organization, he sent a Muslim mission in the country and these missionaries set up what is now known to be the Islamic Command Council. This is the direct contact of the fundamentalists in Mindanao with the Talinbans,’ he said.

Among those known fundamentalists who joined the group are the Abu Sayyaf bandits, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and possibly some factions of the Moro National Liberation Front.

Meanwhile, a former PNP intelligence chief said that Bin Laden is supporting the Abu Sayyaf with manpower as part of his plan to spread “ Islamic extremism” worldwide.

“He has no special interest in the country but maintains his line with the ASG for much needed manpower resources to fight alongside him if necessary. He has no nation or country to speak of but Muslim zealots worldwide.”