Security officials seek to uncover Palestinian’s terror plot

Security officials are questioning a suspected Palestinian terrorist now in custody about his alleged plans and possible contacts in the country.

Intelligence officials said they are investigating the local contacts of Fawaz Zi Ajjur, 39, who was detained on March 26 in Zamboanga City after traveling a circuitous route around the globe.

Officials noted during interrogation that Fawaz speaks Filipino as well as other local dialects.

Fawaz was originally due to be deported but was detained by immigration authorities after two former Abu Sayyaf bandits identified him as allegedly being one of six "Arab-looking foreigners" who trained the bandits in their camp.

The two Abu Sayyaf members, who have turned state witness, claimed Fawaz worked with them in 2000 and instigated the bandit group to stage kidnapping attacks to gain international media attention and embarrass the government.

"We are now trying to determine his previous activities and contacts not only in Mindanao but also in Metro Manila as we believe that he (Fawaz) is not operating alone here," a high-ranking intelligence official said.

Fawaz was presented to the media in Zamboanga Friday by President Arroyo and officials led by Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza and Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez.

Fawaz has claimed he is merely a traveling salesman.

Fernandez said "our interrogation will continue and we will file a case against him," although he gave no specifics. "This is a big fish."

"There was this sworn statement that he was one of the six Arab trainers in Patikul sometime in 2000 and further interrogation may lead to other activities that may be a threat or inimical to the interest of the security of our country," Fernandez added.

Fawaz was transferred to Manila yesterday and was turned over to the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Immigration officials said they decided to turn over Fawaz to the police after they found convincing clues that could link him to local and foreign terror groups.

"Initially he (Fawaz) is playing it cool. We are finding it hard to break him down because he appeared to know everything about debriefing techniques," one official said. "He knows where our questioning is heading and he is very evasive in all his answers."

Aside from being fluent in Filipino, Fawaz can also speak fluent Russian, French and other European languages, skills that caught the attention of investigators.

Immigration officials also noted Fawaz was able to travel extensively, apparently without having any means to pay for his travel expenses, passing through Russia, Thailand and Malaysia before entering the country through Zamboanga City.

Officials also noted Fawaz had no credit cards to shoulder his travel expenses.

The military said Fawaz has a commerce degree from the University of Kuwait and had been married three times – to a Filipina, a Kuwaiti and a Ukrainian.

His passport showed that he left Kiev, Ukraine on March 11, landed in Bangkok where he stayed for a week, then took a train to Kuala Lumpur. He then flew to Sandakan and from there, on to Zamboanga City.

He had only P2,000 with him when he arrived in Zamboanga, thus raising suspicions that somebody would further finance his trips, Fernandez said.

Intelligence sources revealed Fawaz had been receiving money via Western Union but did not say who was sending it to him.

Western Mindanao Regional Police chief Director Vidal Querol said Fawaz was allegedly involved in unspecified terror plots.

"Meaning to say, along the way there seems to be an established support group," Querol said.

As Querol spoke, Fawaz’s eyes widened in apparent surprise over the allegations against him, then he smiled.

Security officials said they suspect Fawaz returned to the country to further train local insurgents or to take part in an attack.

Braganza said the arrest of Fawaz has bolstered the efforts of the military to continue monitoring of personalities believed to have terror links. "This must not stop us from tracking the other members of these cells operating in the country," Braganza said. — With Roel Pareño, AFP