PNP: Woman has no Sayyaf links

Aside from a suspiciously marked map, several 9-mm. bullets and $48,000 in cash, police have yet to gather evidence that would link a suspected terrorist woman to the Abu Sayyaf or any rebel group.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, Deputy Director General Edgar Galvante admitted yesterday they still have no evidence against suspected terrorist Violeta Malikdan even after two days of questioning.

"We found her having no connection with the Abu Sayyaf," Galvante said in a telephone interview, while stressing that police are still investigating the case.

"She appeared to be making an impression that she is well-connected not only with the Abu Sayyaf but other organizations as well. But we found no evidence to confirm her allegations," Galvante said.

Galvante denied that Malikdan was the wife of fugitive bandit leader Aldam Tilao, alias Abu Sabaya, and investigators suggested that Malikdan may just be an "ordinary depressed woman."

A police intelligence official said Malikdan, said to be in her early 30s and a native of Mindanao, was apparently "depressed" because she failed the Bar examinations she took last year.

Galvante said it appears that the map, marking the locations of the US embassy, Pandacan oil depot, Bangko Sentral complex and the Manila Hotel, was only the handiwork of Malikdan.

Also seized from Malikdan were about a hundred love letters from a foreigner boyfriend. Police did not identify the man from whom the letters came.

But the authorities are still puzzled over the $48,000 seized in her possession and are currently trying to determine if the cash was part of the ransom paid for Abu Sayyaf hostages from Sipadan, Malaysia last year.

"We cannot extract information from her. She has been very secretive," said NCRPO deputy director for operations, Chief Superintendent Romulo Sales.

Authorities said Malikdan appears to be trying to make the impression that she was not interested in the $48,000 and wanted only to return to her room at the Manila Hotel where she has been staying since April, supposedly rarely going out.

Police said they have sought the assistance of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to determine if the $48,000, mostly in $100 bills, were genuine and have asked the US Embassy to help trace the money trail.

But police are still trying to determine if Malikdan was just a mentally disturbed woman or was just good at feigning it to conceal her identity.

The authorities claimed they could not establish her background, could not contact relatives or friends nor could they verify the little information she provided them.

Malikdan was apprehended at Room 802 of the Manila Hotel on Friday and was charged with illegal possession of ammunition but no one has come to post her P60,000 bail and she remains in police custody at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.

Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Roilo Golez reiterated Malikdan’s arrest does not necessarily mean that there are plans to stage terrorist attacks in Metro Manila.

Golez made the clarification as he and Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao explained to reporters why the Presidential Security Group (PSG) took a keen interest in the case.

"It’s routine for the PSG to join an investigation of any terror plot," Tiglao said, stressing the police have not come up with definite findings.

"There are indications that would merit suspicions. And prudence dictates we continue our tactical interrogation here," Golez said. - With Marichu Villanueva