‘Terror threat to persist’

Even if the reported death of Osama bin Laden were true, it would not end terrorism in the country, Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon said yesterday.

"If the report is true, he is only one person," he said.

Esperon said there are many other terrorists posing a threat to the world.

In the country, the Southeast Asian terror cell Jemaah Islamiyah, loosely linked to Bin Laden’s al-Qaeda, has launched several attacks, he pointed out.

Esperon said al-Qaeda has followers around the globe, and they all get inspiration from Bin Laden.

"There are other (al-Qaeda) cells or disciples around the globe… we have identified Dulmatin and Patek and they are in Jolo," he said.

Esperon was referring to Umar Patek and Dulmatin, who are wanted for the nightclub bombings that killed 202 people, mostly Australian tourists, in Bali, Indonesia on Oct. 12, 2002.

A French newspaper, quoting French military intelligence sources, reported that Bin Laden died from typhoid fever in Pakistan this month. – Jaime Laude