No more signs of JI in Philippines

No more signs of JI in Philippines

PHILIPPINES: The Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist network appears to have been rooted out of the Philippines following the arrest of two Indonesian bombers, National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said on Wednesday.

Golez also said there was no confirmation that local Muslim guerrillas had been sheltering a JI cell in one of their main camps before it was overrun by a military offensive in 2000.

On Tuesday, military chief Gen. Benjamin Defensor said a JI cell was believed to have operated from Camp Abubakar, the main base of the Muslim separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels before it was overrun by the military in 2000.

However Golez said this was unconfirmed and that "foreign- looking guys" reportedly seen in MILF camps might not actually be foreigners.

Golez also played down reports that some 12,000 Indonesians were living illegally in the southern Philippines and that suspected terrorists might be among them. --AFP