Bounty hunters seek out JI

MARAWI CITY — Bounty hunters have joined the search for two Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leaders tagged as the brains behind the October 2002 terrorist bombings in Bali, Indonesia after the US government offered a total of $11 million for their capture.

The government and the US Embassy in Manila have both confirmed that Malaysian nationals Dulmatin, who carries a $10-million reward, and Umar Patek, with a $1-million bounty on his head, are being coddled by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group in the hinterlands of Central Mindanao.

Since the US announced the $11-million reward, local residents here have become more observant of foreign-looking men using local names as aliases who may have assimilated into the local population in the city and in Lanao del Sur.

A university professor, who asked not to be named, said the two suspects might be "sold" by some of their local accomplices because of the huge sum of money being offered by the US government for their capture.

The bountry hunters might also end up quarreling over the money, the professor added, as they did in the kidnapping of foreign tourists from the Malaysian resort island of Sipadan about five years ago.

A source, who asked not to be named, said he saw a group of foreign- looking men whom he suspected to be wanted Jemaah Islamiyah suspects involved in the Bali bombings, coming out of a resort hotel a few days ago.

He and his group monitored the movements of the foreign-looking men and learned that they had proceeded to the town of Tugaya, then Masiu and finally to the boundary of Butig town, all in Lanao del Sur, the source added.

Butig is where the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)’s Camp Busra is located.

The source believes the movement of JI suspects is also being monitored by JI camps via high-technology equipment.

Last year, the military here said it had identified more than 30 suspected JI terrorists in Mindanao.

However, the military would not disclose the progress of their hunt for the suspected terrorists.

The US reward offer was the second highest yet offered for suspects wanted in connection with terrorist bombings.

A television network reported the other day that the suspects were in Mt. Kararao near the boundary of Butig town, Lanao del Sur.

Meanwhile, two lawmakers urged the MILF yesterday to help the government hunt down the 33 JI terrorists being given refuge by the Abu Sayyaf.

Representatives Benasing Macarambon of Lanao del Sur and Monico Puentevella of Bacolod City said now is the best time for the MILF to prove that it is one with the government in the fight against terrorism.

Macarambon and Puentevella said the MILF’s assistance would be instrumental to the government because the secessionist group’s forces are more familiar with the Mindanao terrain and have direct information from the ground as to the movements of the JI members.

Macarambon said having JI members in Mindanao is contrary to the Bangsamoro people’s interests.

"We want peace in Mindanao," he said.

"We are not pitting Muslims against Muslims, but the MILF understands the mindset of the JIs better. The MILF’s help in locating the foreign terrorists would be in accordance with the group’s position denouncing terrorism," Macarambon said.

He said the MILF’s assistance in tracking down the JIs can serve as a confidence-building measure in its peace talks with the government.

"The MILF has previously committed to the government, in a show of good faith, to assist the government in the interdiction and isolation of terrorist groups seeking refuge in MILF communities," the lawmaker added.

Puentevella said local governments in Mindanao must use their available resources for better intelligence information gathering to track down the JI terrorists.

"We cannot allow these international terrorists (to) make Mindanao their haven nor their launching pad for their next attacks," he said.

Puentevella said the MILF should help the government capture the 33 JI terrorists whose presence in the country poses a threat to the lives of the people.

"The MILF should contribute in the hunt because of their (knowledge of) terrorist groups in the country," he said. "The MILF had previously helped the military in operations against Abu Sayyaf members," he said.

Puentevella also said it was MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu who disclosed last week that the Bali terrorists were in Mindanao.

"The information provided by the MILF and their support operations against terrorists are vital in helping our Armed Forces end terror operations in the South," he said. — With Delon Porcalla