Osama frequent visitor to RP: Paper

Osama frequent visitor to RP: Paper

MANILA (AFP): Saudi millionaire Osama bin Laden, accused of sponsoring terrorist attacks around the world, is a frequent visitor to the Philippines and one of his wives is a Filipina Moslem, a local newspaper reported yesterday.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted intelligence sources as saying Osama "is a frequent visitor to the Philippines, particularly in Mindanao", the main southern island which is home of the country's Moslem minority.

In reaction to the newspaper report, presidential spokesman Jerry Barican issued a statement saying that the government would not comment on "intelligence matters and national security".

Barican said the intelligence council, the foreign affairs department and other security agencies were "watching all developments and taking the necessary steps to ensure national security and the safety of the public."