Aviation Security Group (ASG) chief Gen. Marcelo Ele said Interpol relayed to local immigration authorities "reliable" information that Bin Laden had ordered a "fanatical" group of followers to hit US interests in the country and assist Abu Sayyaf bandits.
According to the Interpol information, Bin Laden supposedly plans to use Afghan refugees in Pakistan or Pakistani or Middle East nationals to link up with Abu Sayyaf bandits, Ele said.
Manila-based US terrorist experts are also monitoring the arrival of travelers from the Middle East as they have also received the same advisory from Interpol, Ele added.
The ASG chief said his group is coordinating closely with the Bureau of Immigration to monitor the movements of suspected Abu Sayyaf supporters from abroad.
Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo, for her part, ordered the contingent of Philippine Marines assigned to the bureau to closely inspect sea vessels departing Mindanao ports for leaders and members of the Abu Sayyaf.
Domingo said the authorities suspect the Abu Sayyaf may try to flee a continuing military offensive in Basilan by exiting through the country’s backdoor.
But Domingo assured that all exit points are being closely watched by law enforcement agencies and that the government is also coordinating with Malaysian authorities.
Immigration officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have also clamped down on tourists with Middle East passports who have listed Mindanao as their common destination.
NAIA immigration officials are particularly watching for the possible entry of a certain Khalifa, said to be a brother of Bin Laden, who is married to a Filipina and is the billionaire terrorist’s link to the Abu Sayyaf.– With Christina Mendez