At least two terrorist cells active in Metro Manila: military

At least two terrorist cells composed of Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) operatives are currently operating in Metro Manila with the plots to carry out bombings, the Philippine military said Monday.

Armed Forces public information office chief Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual said at a news conference that the military intelligence agents are exerting efforts to neutralize the Abu Sayyaf-JI cells and thwart their plans.

When asked if the cells are plotting bombings, Pascual said: "That is their mission and objective, but we are tracking them down to prevent them from doing so".

He said that JI operatives in the two cells are "most probably" Indonesians.

The Indonesian-based Southeast Asian terrorist network is suspected of being linked to al-Qaida terrorist group and behind two Bali bombings leaving hundreds of killed and injured.

The Philippine military has admitted that there were more than 30 JI operatives active in the southern islands of Mindanao and the capital to train and conspire with Abu Sayyaf members in carrying out terrorist attacks.

Pascual said that the two cells are as "sophisticated" as the group that detonated a bomb inside a passenger bus in Makati City, Metro Manila, on Valentine's Day this year, leaving eight people dead and over 100 others injured.

"They used cell phone as the triggering device," he said.

When asked if the two cells are capable of mounting another attack similar to the Valentine's Day bombings, he said: "I do not want to sound an alarmist but the Abu Sayyaf and JI cells here in Metro Manila are capable of conducting bombings as we have experienced before".

In view of the repeated Bali bombings, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has last week ordered an intensified offensive against the JI in the country and urged Congress to speed up the passage of the anti-terror bill.

Source: Xinhua