Abu Sayyaf plans to bomb Manila shopping centers: Philippine official

The Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Arturo Lomibao said on Friday there is a plan by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) to launch bomb attacks in Metro Manila next week after police crushed a prison uprising this week led by Abu Sayyaf leaders.

Lomibao told local radion DZMM that alleged bomb supplier Gamal Baharan alias Boy Negro confessed to police that at least five ASGmembers were given a mission to plant explosives in shopping mallsin Metro Manila.

"This morning, we would like to say that we have confirmed the revelation of Boy Negro," Lomibao said. "Upon interrogation, he said four or five Abu Sayyaf members and one Indonesian JI have been sent to Metro Manila in the past few days."

"Their plan is to conduct bombings in Metro Manila...Their target is to put (explosives) in the dry goods section, like clothes, which would easily burn," he added.

He said that police had been placed on full alert since Wednesday and that additional security would be placed inside malls.

Twenty-two Abu Sayyaf members were killed during a storming by police of a prison in Taguig south of Manila on Tuesday after they staged a riot for 24 hours demanding justice and media access.

Lomibao, who was appointed as PNP chief last week by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, said the police will blish sketches of the suspected ASG bombers and has stepped up intelligence gathering to track down the suspects.

He urged the public to remain be calm and to be more security cautious, especially inside shopping malls and that security guards in shopping malls should check the baggage of every person that enters the malls.

State Prosecutor Peter Medalle said on Thursday that the ASG is planning to bomb churches during the Holy Week starting next Monday to celebrate "the Passion of Christ" in accordance with the Catholic Church calendar.

The Abu Sayyaf has claimed responsibility for the Feb. 14, 2005bombing of a passenger bus in Makati and two other bomb attacks in southern Philippines on the same day.

Source: Xinhua