RP vows to bring the Abu Sayyaf to its knees

RP vows to bring the Abu Sayyaf to its knees

MANILA (Agencies): President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo vowed Wednesday to defeat terrorism in the Philippines and pledged full support for the U.S.-led international coalition against the blight worldwide.

"The impact of our involvement in the war against terrorism will not be measured by our contribution to the international coalition alone," she said. "To a greater degree, it will be measured by our own achievements in defeating terrorism within our own territorial boundaries."

Arroyo has identified the Abu Sayyaf, notorious for kidnappings for ransom and reportedly linked to Osama bin Laden, as the only terrorist group in the Philippines. It currently is holding about 18 people hostage, including an American couple.

Addressing the Philippine Constitutional Association, Arroyo outlined a 14-point anti-terrorism program and renewed commitments to the international coalition, including use of Philippine airspace and ports as staging grounds or transit points for coalition forces and close cooperation with U.S. intelligence.

"In our own land, we shall defeat terrorism in our own terms with our own hands and in line with our own national vision," she said. "We shall win this war under the tenets of constitutional democracy and the rule of law."

Arroyo said Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo will head a Cabinet oversight committee to supervise all government agencies involved in implementing responses to terrorism.

She directed National Security Adviser Roilo Golez to consolidate domestic and international intelligence on terrorist activities, ordered security forces to "go all out" against terrorists and urged ordinary citizens to help wage "this clandestine war."

An "immediate inventory" would be made of "dubious" organizations that may be serving as fronts for terrorists. Criminal groups would be held legally accountable for aiding and abetting terrorism.

Golez said on Wednesday the Philippines may seek "greater assistance" from the United States in efforts to crush the Abu Sayyaf, admitting that the government was facing "some constraints" in efforts to neutralize the rebel group.

"We realize that there are some constraints in our efforts against the Abu Sayyaf," Golez said in a television interview. "Since the U.S. is now battling a bigger network, perhaps we can discuss greater assistance with the U.S. in going after the Abu Sayyaf."

The U.S. government has listed the Abu Sayyaf as one of 27 individuals or organizations linked to bin Laden, the prime suspect in the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington that left more than 6,000 people dead.

Golez did not say what form of additional help could be sought from the U.S., which was already extending technical assistance to the Philippine military through training of personnel and intelligence sharing.

Amid efforts by the U.S. to freeze the assets of terrorist groups worldwide, especially those linked to bin Laden, the Philippine government has also started to look into the money trail of the Abu Sayyaf.

According to Philippine security officials, the Abu Sayyaf has been receiving financial support from bin Laden. Many of the group's members have also been sent to Afghanistan for training, including its slain founder.

The military has also placed under surveillance some non- government organizations set up by bin Laden's brother-in-law and suspected to have channeled funds to the Abu Sayyaf and other Moro rebel organizations.

More than 5,000 troops have been deployed to track down the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan and rescue the hostages, who include American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham.

The Department of Foreign Affairs was told to "fast-track a regional consensus" against terrorism, referring to a proposal to set up a sub-regional anti-terrorist coalition with Indonesia and Malaysia. All three Southeast Asian neighbors face extremist violence.