Lebanese terrorist in town?

US Embassy-based agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency have set-up a nationwide dragnet for a terrorist group led by a Lebanese national which plans to sneak into the Philippines to fund and assist in the planned bombing of American and Israeli interests in the country.

Top American anti-terrorist experts have reportedly provided Malacañang with the identity of the Lebanese national and have sought the assistance of their local counterparts to monitor all arriving Middle East nationals at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the three other international airports in the provinces.

The Lebanese national, confirmed as an international terrorist by American authorities, was identified as Ahmad Yaser Ismail, who was believed to lead a group of Osama bin Laden’s fighters who will rendezvous with local saboteurs to fund and assist in the bombing of Metro Manila and US and Israeli interests in the country.

"We have been monitoring all arriving flights from countries we consider as high risks," said a top immigration intelligence officer, who asked that his name be withheld in the meantime.

Aviation Security Group (ASG) chief Marcelo Ele disclosed that they have been ordered to be on their toes 24 hours a day and coordinate closely with the Bureau of Immigration in the monitoring of passenger arrivals from the Middle East.

Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo, however, refused to confirm or deny that US Embassy officials have also requested the bureau for assistance in the monitoring of arriving passengers from the Middle East, beyond saying that "our intelligence officers are on an alert status at the country’s four international airports." – Rey Arquiza

Immigration personnel, particularly at the NAIA, are subjecting arriving Middle East nationals to an eagle-eye watch in a determined effort to bag the international terrorist, who is reportedly leading a foreign-based group of saboteurs that will fund and assist bombing operations the Abu Sayyaf in Metro-Manila.

The intelligence information relayed by the Americans to the Philippine authorities is highly positive coming as it is from their assets in Afghanistan where bin Laden is waging a war of attrition against Americans and their interests abroad that includes the Philippines. – Rey Arquiza