/ stevenwarran's Library/ Notes/ December 31, 2001, Philippine Daily Inquirer, CL cops hot on tracks of al-Qaida members, by Tonette Orejas,
December 31, 2001, Philippine Daily Inquirer, CL cops hot on tracks of al-Qaida members, by Tonette Orejas,
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December 31, 2001, Philippine Daily Inquirer, CL cops hot on tracks of al-Qaida members, by Tonette Orejas,
CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga-Central Luzon policemen are hot on the tracks of members of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist cell in the Philippines following the arrest of a suspected Jordanian terrorist on Thursday in Bataan.
Chief Supt. Reynaldo Berroya, Central Luzon police chief, withheld information on the activities, identities and nationalities of "several men" suspected to have links with bin Laden, the prime suspect in the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the United States.
"We are hot on their tracks. We are investigating their activities," Berroya said of the cohorts of Jordanian businessman Hadi Yousef Alghoul.
In a raid on Thursday night, intelligence operatives found 281 sticks of dynamite in the ceiling of Alghoul's apartment in Barcarse Subdivision in Barangay Cupang North, Balanga City.
Berroya said the explosives were planned to be used in a series of bombings in Metro Manila next week.
Alghoul was charged with illegal possession of explosives before the regional trial court in Balanga City on Friday. He remained locked at the Balanga City jail after he was unable to post a P200,000-bail.
The Jordanian, together with his Filipino wife, sells underwear in a small stall at the Remar Market in Balanga. However, police investigations showed that he withdrew huge amounts of money every Thursday during the last four months that he was under surveillance.
Alghoul might stay in jail until Jan. 2 because the court is closed for the holidays, Berroya said.
Alghoul, according to Berroya, is an illegal alien, having been unable to show legitimate migrant documents during his arrest.
Policemen have coordinated with the Bureau of Immigration on Alghoul's status in the country and his supposed links with the al-Qaida network.
Berroya said he was discouraging the deportation of Alghoul.
"I want him to face charges in the country," he said.
Alghoul, who was presented to reporters in Camp Olivas in Pampanga on Friday, claimed he was "framed up."
He and his wife denied hiding explosives in their apartment.
Berroya, former intelligence chief of the Philippine National Police, laughed off Alghoul's claim.
Barangay officials, he emphasized, witnessed the raid and helped the raiding team at 10:30 p.m. Thursday.
"It will be counter-productive on his part to deny (the charges). The (pieces of) evidence against him are glaring," he added.
Policemen also found in Alghoul's possession 35 sheets of documents written in Arabic. Several Taliban poems, written in English and urging to take up arms against the US, were also found in the three travel bags purportedly seized from Alghoul.
Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo could not say yet if Alghoul is on the BI's list of suspected or confirmed terrorists.
"I'm not sure yet if he is on the BI list. I have no one in the office to run a computer check," Domingo said in a cellular phone text message sent to this correspondent on Saturday.
Chief Supt. Reynaldo Berroya, Central Luzon police chief, withheld information on the activities, identities and nationalities of "several men" suspected to have links with bin Laden, the prime suspect in the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the United States.
"We are hot on their tracks. We are investigating their activities," Berroya said of the cohorts of Jordanian businessman Hadi Yousef Alghoul.
In a raid on Thursday night, intelligence operatives found 281 sticks of dynamite in the ceiling of Alghoul's apartment in Barcarse Subdivision in Barangay Cupang North, Balanga City.
Berroya said the explosives were planned to be used in a series of bombings in Metro Manila next week.
Alghoul was charged with illegal possession of explosives before the regional trial court in Balanga City on Friday. He remained locked at the Balanga City jail after he was unable to post a P200,000-bail.
The Jordanian, together with his Filipino wife, sells underwear in a small stall at the Remar Market in Balanga. However, police investigations showed that he withdrew huge amounts of money every Thursday during the last four months that he was under surveillance.
Alghoul might stay in jail until Jan. 2 because the court is closed for the holidays, Berroya said.
Alghoul, according to Berroya, is an illegal alien, having been unable to show legitimate migrant documents during his arrest.
Policemen have coordinated with the Bureau of Immigration on Alghoul's status in the country and his supposed links with the al-Qaida network.
Berroya said he was discouraging the deportation of Alghoul.
"I want him to face charges in the country," he said.
Alghoul, who was presented to reporters in Camp Olivas in Pampanga on Friday, claimed he was "framed up."
He and his wife denied hiding explosives in their apartment.
Berroya, former intelligence chief of the Philippine National Police, laughed off Alghoul's claim.
Barangay officials, he emphasized, witnessed the raid and helped the raiding team at 10:30 p.m. Thursday.
"It will be counter-productive on his part to deny (the charges). The (pieces of) evidence against him are glaring," he added.
Policemen also found in Alghoul's possession 35 sheets of documents written in Arabic. Several Taliban poems, written in English and urging to take up arms against the US, were also found in the three travel bags purportedly seized from Alghoul.
Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo could not say yet if Alghoul is on the BI's list of suspected or confirmed terrorists.
"I'm not sure yet if he is on the BI list. I have no one in the office to run a computer check," Domingo said in a cellular phone text message sent to this correspondent on Saturday.
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