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August 9, 1995, Seattle Times News Services, Police Unearth Group's Plot To Raid 2 Philippine Towns,

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August 9, 1995, Seattle Times News Services, Police Unearth Group's Plot To Raid 2 Philippine Towns,

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A plot by a Muslim extremist group to ransack two more major southern towns has been uncovered, police said today.

Police director Recorde Nogra said the Abu Sayyaf group planned to simultaneously hit Dipolog City and Liloy, towns on the northern coast of the Zamboanga peninsula about 450 miles south of Manila.

Liloy is just 25 miles north of Ipil, where Abu Sayyaf marauders killed 53 people, robbed banks and stores and set the town center on fire in an April 4 attack.

Nogra said intelligence agents unearthed the plan after complaints from businessmen of Abu Sayyaf's attempt to extort money.

One Liloy businessman showed police a letter demanding $2,000 a month in "protection money."

"Should you still wish to peacefully lead and operate your business, then you have to silently cooperate" read the letter signed by Abdurajak Janjalani, whom authorities say is the leader of the group.

"If we learn that you have notified the military, we want you to know that the authorities can't protect you 24 hours a day," the letter warned.

Police investigators said the letter appeared genuine.

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stevenwarran

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on Jan 06, 13