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September 28, 2005, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Bomb materials found in raid on Sayyaf lair

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September 28, 2005, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Bomb materials found in raid on Sayyaf lair 

ZAMBOANGA CITY—A RAID on Pilas Island in Lantawan, Basilan Tuesday dawn yielded more than 40 sacks of explosive chemicals, thousands of detonating cords and blasting caps, several gallons of gasoline, triggering devices and assorted firearms, the Philippine Navy said.

Commodore Rufino Lopez, chief of the Naval Forces in Western Mindanao, said Pilas Island is a known stronghold of a Moro National Liberation Front (MILF) breakaway group led by Bashier Jailani.

The island was also a former training ground of Abu Sayyaf leader Jainal Antel Sali alias Abu Solaiman.

Lopez said the 4 a.m. raid was conducted after an informant confirmed the presence of a warehouse located within the mangrove areas.

But Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Ernesto de Leon Jr. could not say if the explosives will be used for terror acts or illegal fishing.

“Until now we still do not know the (identity of the) owner of the warehouse,” he said.

In Cotabato City, a Marine brigade commander insisted that the operations against Abu Sayyaf leader Khadaffy Janjalani and his followers, believed to be trapped in Maguindanao, will continue.

“It’s not a total termination of the operation. It would only allow residents of Aha, Timar, Pukol and Maradir, all border villages of Talayan and Guindulungan towns, to return to their respective homes,” said Brig. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino, commanding general of the Philippine Marines 2nd Brigade and chair of the government’s Adhoc Joint Action Group.

He said he was told by officials of the 6th Infantry Division that while Janjalani has moved, he and his men were still trapped in Maguindanao.

Earlier, government chief negotiator Silvestre Afable Jr. said the military operation target in Maguindanao was no longer in the area.

Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesperson, said the temporary halt in the military operation would pave the way for displaced families in Talayan, Guindulungan, Datu Odin Sinsuat and South Upi to return to their homes.

“It’s difficult. The operation against them has no time frame and the innocent civilians are most affected,” Kabalu said.

Kabalu said informers said the group of Janjalani had split into smaller teams to evade soldiers. Jeoffrey Maitem and Julie Alipala, PDI Mindanao Bureau

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