Military verifying reports that Janjalani, JI have slipped into Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The military is verifying reports that Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist bomber Dulmatin have escaped to Basilan to evade pursuing troops.

However, Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo, Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) chief, said they believe that the two terrorist leaders are still holding out in the jungles of Sulu.

"As of now the operation is ongoing on the assumption that they are there in Sulu," he told reporters yesterday.

Troops in Sulu are checking out whether Dulmatin, Umar Patek, and Janjalani have indeed fled to Basilan, Cedo said.

Meanwhile, intelligence sources have expressed doubts Janjalani and the two JI leaders would travel to Basilan or Central Mindanao.

"They were also sold out by their own peers there because of their hefty bounty rewards," the source, who requested for anonymity, said.

Dulmatin is carrying a $10-million reward, Umar Patek $1 million, and Janjalani a $5-million bounty from the US government.

Dulmatin and Patek are tagged as key suspects in the 2002 Bali bombing in Indonesia that killed 202 tourists, mostly Australians and Europeans.

Janjalani is wanted for the kidnapping and murder of Americans and a spate of terrorist bombings in the Philippines.

More Army Scout Rangers were deployed in Sulu early this week to reinforce troops running after Janjalani, Dulmatin and Patek in the jungles of Sulu.

Australians told not to travel to Mindanao

Meanwhile, Australian counter-terrorism Ambassador Mike Smith warned Australians yesterday against visiting Mindanao.

Smith told reporters at military headquarters here that the continued travel advisory is based on information received by Australia.

"There is nothing that I have heard today that I’m aware it will be changed," he said. "I’m sure it will stay where it is, but that decision will be taken in Canberra."

Smith, who arrived here for a familiarization visit, was briefed by Cedo of the military hunt for Dulmatin, Patek, and their Abu Sayyaf cohorts.

Cedo said troops are working doubly hard to capture the key suspects in the 2002 Bali bombing in Indonesia.

He also assured that Western Mindanao is safe as security forces have plugged all impending terrorist threats.

The Australian government joined the United Kingdom and New Zealand early this month in issuing warning against travel to Mindanao.

The travel warning came barely a day or two before terrorists staged a series of bombings in Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat, Makilala in North Cotabato and Cotabato City, where six people were killed and 33 others wounded.

A week later, another bomb also exploded in Jolo, Sulu. At least three people were wounded in the attack.

The police and military blamed the series of bombings on factions of separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) with coordination of the JI and Abu Sayyaf to avenge the arrest of Istiada Oemar Sovie alias Amenah Tohe, wife of Dulmatin.

Police authorities have filed charges against Dulmatin, Patek, and MILF chairman Ebrahim Murad.