US envoy believes RP capable of neutralizing Jemaah Islamiyah

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines – US Ambassador Kristie Kenney is confident about the capability of Philippine security forces to neutralize the threat of the Indonesian-based terror group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and its local counterpart Al-Khobar.

“I am very confident on the capability of the police and military in neutralizing the terrorists operating in the Philippines. I know they will soon neutralize them,” Kenney said.

The US envoy, along with Jon Lindborg, USAID Chief of Mission to the Philippines, and other American officials visited General Santos City and South Cotabato province yesterday to inaugurate the projects implemented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its implementing arm, the Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM).

Kenney also led the inauguration of the P10-million US-funded police training facility in Barangay Tambler in General Santos City to strengthen the Filipino forces’ anti-terror capability.

Aside from training Filipino soldiers in anti-terror operations, the US government had been helping the Philippines in building facilities to enhance its capability to neutralize terror groups based in Mindanao.

Kenney said the US will continue to provide assistance to the Filipino forces in terms of equipment, training and expertise.

“The exchange of expertise between the American and Filipino troops has hastened the fight against terror. Both countries are committed to sustain the sharing,” Kenney said.

Kenney said she is impressed with the efforts displayed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in controlling the movements of two JI terrorists, Dulmatin and Umar Patek, both reportedly being harbored by the Abu Sayyaf bandit group.