Sayyaf continues to be funded by Islamic group in Middle East

ZAMBOANGA CITY — An arrested Abu Sayyaf suspect revealed that the terrorist group continues to receive financial support from an organization sympathetic to its cause in the Middle East.

Jayrold Nassara, who was captured in a police raid on a west-coast village in this city last week, also confirmed that the notorious Urban Terror Group (UTG) of the Abu Sayyaf was behind the spate of killings of at least nine policemen and soldiers last October.

But Nassara, alias Kobe, insisted he was not a member of the group, instead merely serving his brother Joselito and UTG leaders Iting and Annie Sailani.

"I am not a member, it is my brother (who is an Abu Sayyaf). I just serve by running errands for them," Nassara said while handcuffed to his hospital bed and under tight security.

Nassara, who was rushed to the hospital after attempting suicide by drinking a small amount of muriatic acid, disclosed hearing from the Sailani brothers and from his sibling that an Islamic organization in the Middle East continued to funnel funds to the Abu Sayyaf.

However, he said he had no idea how the money was being sent.

Military and police intelligence here suspect that the funds are being channeled through a group disguising as a nongovernment organization.

"Our authorities are carefully coordinating with the banks of (certain) individuals on suspiciously transferring huge sums of money from abroad. But so far, there has been none and now our intelligence is training its gun on possible organizations (giving financial aid to the Abu Sayyaf)," a military source said.

The Sailani brothers were responsible for the killing of nine Marine and Army members in Sulu last July before escaping to Zamboanga City.

Nassara’s brother, who goes by the alias Abu Sufian, was killed in a shootout that ensued following the police raid in Barangay Ayala where Jayrold was captured.

Intelligence officials have linked the Abu Sayyaf to the al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden.

The Abu Sayyaf group has carried out some of the country’s worst terror attacks, including the bombing of a passenger ferry in February 2004 that killed over 100 people.

It is on the US State Department’s list of foreign terrorists. — Roel Pareño