September 20, 2001, The Philippine Star, Sayyaf member nabbed, by Non Alquitran,

September 20, 2001, The Philippine Star, Sayyaf member nabbed, by Non Alquitran,

Police arrested yesterday in Sampaloc, Manila a ranking member of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group who carried a P1-million bounty on his head.

This developed as the government allayed fears of a terrorist attack in the country, saying the only threat to national security is the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) that operated mainly in Mindanao.

"Our principal problem is the ASG and this is being attended to by the government," National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said.

He said the ASG has been placed under control following the military's all-out offensive in Sulu and Basilan islands.

Director Thompson Lantion, police community relations chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), shared the views of Golez.

Golez revealed that so far, the troops have captured 150 Abu Sayyaf guerrillas and killed 40 others.

Among those captured recently was a senior communications officer of the rebels who styled themselves as freedom fighters struggling for an independent Islamic state in Mindanao.

Golez also said the military is set to announce the capture of another ranking Abu Sayyaf leader who is a brother of a still unidentified top government official.

"There is no serious threat to us, but we are enforcing measures to secure public and private installations," Golez said.

For his part, Lantion said there was at the moment no serious threat to national security.

Lantion assured the people, however, that the police and the military remained on alert, and have secured public and private installations.

On the possibility that international terrorists may seek refuge in the Philippines to elude a US-led campaign, Lantion said local authorities were prepared to prevent them from entering the country.

"We will not allow them (terrorists) to have sanctuary in the country. We will do everything for this purpose," Lantion said.

Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said despite the country's stable security, the military and the police remained on high alert since the Abu Sayyaf raid on May 27 at the posh Dos Palmas resort off Palawan in which 20 local and foreign guests, along with a handful of resort workers, were snatched and taken by boat to Basilan.

Tiglao deplored Tokyo's issuance of a travel advisory warning Japanese nationals from traveling to the Philippines.

Tiglao said the advisory apparently stemmed from reports that Saudi billionaire Osama bin Laden, a prime suspect in last week's devastating terrorist attacks in the United States, maintained terrorist cells in the Philippines.

But authorities have clarified that such cells no longer exist.

However, Chief Superintendent Avelino Razon, PNP chief for Central Visayas, believed that at least three or four cells of Bin Laden continued to operate in the country.

Military intelligence reports tended to confirm Razon's observations, as Bin Laden's brother-in-law, Mohammad Jamal Khalifa, has set up 12 non-government organizations in Mindanao purportedly to help indigenous Muslims.

Sources in the intelligence community said these organizations actively supported the Abu Sayyaf terrorist activities, while at the same time were being used by Bin Laden to promote Islamic extremism.

The sources also said most of the original members of the Abu Sayyaf were closely associated with Bin Laden, or have fought with him in the Afghan War.