November 15, 2002, Manila Bulletin, Bush vows continuing support, by Genalyn D. Kabiling,

November 15, 2002, Manila Bulletin, Bush vows continuing support, by Genalyn D. Kabiling,

United States President George W. Bush assured President Arroyo that she can count on sustained US financial aid, including the forthcoming $30-million US military assistance to the governments anti-terrorism drive.

Bush called President Arroyo Thursday night shortly after she announced the authorities have arrested a suspected Abu Sayyaf bomb expert with possible ties to the al-Qaeda terror network of Osama Bin Laden.

The President said yesterday the Bush administration will pursue the passage of a supplemental budget allotted for the Philippines as part of the $5-billion military package in the US Congress.

Arroyo said Bush expressed appreciation for her administration's intensified measures to combat home-grown and regional terrorism.

In the battle against terrorism, Arroyo cited the importance of intelligence gathering, border patrols, and freezing of assets and funds of terrorists.

Authorities were able to foil bomb attacks in the metropolis following the arrest of Abdul Mukim Edris, head of the Abu Sayyaf urban operations and explosive team.

Edris, who was allegedly recruited by Abu Sayyaf leader Khadafy Janjalani, was planning to attack government and public-owned places in Metro Manila, using truck bombs, when he was arrested.

Ms Macapagal also congratulated the American president for getting the support of the United Nations in the move to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction.