US embassy cable - 05MANILA727

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000727 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/PMBS, DS/IP/EAP, INR/EAP, USIP-SOLOMON, 
DS/DSS/ITA-TCREHAN 
NSC FOR GREEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, ASEC, PINS, RP 
SUBJECT: ASG (IN CONCERT WITH JI) LEADING SUSPECTS IN 
VALENTINE'S DAY BOMBINGS 
 
REF: A. MANILA 705 
     B. MANILA 247 
     C. MANILA 682 
     D. MANILA 630 
     E. MANILA 463 
     F. MANILA 645 
     G. 04 MANILA 5625 
 
Classified By: Political Officer Joseph Saus 
for Reason 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
Summary 
-------- 
 
1.  (C) The terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) heads the list 
of prime suspects in the February 14 series of three bombings 
in Manila and Mindanao that, according to media reports, left 
at least 11 Filipinos dead and 136 injured.  The Moro Islamic 
Liberation Front has publicly condemned the bombings.  The 
police and military are on their highest alert status.  The 
Arroyo Administration has condemned the attacks, calling for 
calm among the population.  No suspects have been apprehended 
yet and preliminary investigation of crime scene evidence is 
underway, with no conclusive findings so far.  No Amcits are 
reported killed or injured.  End Summary. 
 
Abu Sayyaf and JI Leading Suspects 
---------------------------------- 
 
2.  (C) Abu Solaiman, a key commander of the terrorist Abu 
Sayyaf Group (ASG), read a statement on local radio February 
14 claiming "our latest operations in Manila, Davao, and 
GenSan (General Santos), planned and executed with precision 
by the talented warriors of Islam is our continuing response 
to the GRP atrocities committed against Muslims everywhere." 
The diatribe continues to lambaste the GRP, accusing it of 
"unabated harassment and injustices" invoking anti-Muslim 
discrimination in Manila (ref B) and the ongoing Armed Forces 
of the Philippines (AFP) operations against ASG-linked 
Misuari Breakaway Group (MBG) fighters on Jolo Island, Sulu 
Province (refs C,D).  (Comment: We judge the ASG claim as 
credible.  Additionally we suspect the close involvement of 
suspected Jemmah Islamiyah (JI) operatives with reported 
links to ASG leader Khadafi Janjalani (ref E).  While the ASG 
has a proven track record of inflicting casualties with 
bombings, the level of coordination and synchronization is 
reminiscent of the JI-linked multiple bombings in Manila on 
December 30, 2000.  The invocation of the ongoing hostilities 
against the MBG provides the ASG a convenient excuse and 
justification for these terrorist acts.  End Comment.) 
 
MILF and Others Condemns Attacks 
-------------------------------- 
 
3.  (SBU) In an article on its website, the Moro Islamic 
Liberation Front (MILF) condemned the attacks, calling the 
perpetrators "evil men."  "We condemn this barbaric act in 
strongest terms," said Muhammad Ameen Secretary to the Office 
of MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim.  The statement noted, 
"This is a carnage that dehumanizes human life and dignity." 
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye called the bombings 
"despicable acts," adding "we shall not be intimidated, but 
we must be alert and united in our vigilance."  Embassy 
contact Amina Rasul, convenor of the Philippine Council for 
Islam and Democracy, has condemned the attacks calling for 
the "swift apprehension and punishment of the criminals." 
Rasul's statement further warns against "opportunists who 
will exploit the tragedy in order to promote a political 
agenda..." and calls on "all Muslims to be vigilant, that the 
name of Islam and Muslims will not be used in these barbaric 
acts." 
 
Other Bombs? 
------------ 
 
4.  (C) We have no credible indications that these attacks 
are part of another wave of incidents.  However, police in 
Manila had earlier responded to two bomb-related incidents 
apart from the three explosions.  On February 12, police 
discovered two rifle grenades in a bag in front of the 
Japanese Embassy, which is adjacent to the Hyatt Regency 
Manila and 1/4 mile from the Embassy's Seafront Residential 
and General Services Compound on the busy thoroughfare of 
Roxas Boulevard.  Police bomb experts safely removed both 
devices.  On February 14 in the Metro Manila city of 
Paranaque, patrolling PNP officers observed a plastic bag 
discarded by an unidentified man who escaped.  Police 
recovered several pieces of explosive material (TNT and C-4) 
and several detonation devices.  The items were individual 
components and not assembled as an explosive device. 
(Comment: It is unclear if these two incidents are related to 
the bombings.  It is possible the threat against the Japanese 
Embassy is linked to Japan's recent immigration crackdown on 
"entertainer visas" (ref F).  End Comment.) 
 
5.  (C) PNP officials theorized to RSO that the ASG may have 
committed the attacks to divert attention from current AFP 
operations in Sulu Province.  But the planning for such 
events usually takes considerably more time and the linkage 
between fighting in Sulu and these bombings may be 
coincidental.  It is equally likely that the ASG and JI, 
smarting from recent failed AFP attacks against their 
leadership on November 19, 2004 (ref G) and January 27, 2005 
(ref E), have been planning these attacks for months now. 
 
Investigation And Arrests: Too Early To Tell? 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
6.  (C) Legatt reports the crime scenes were largely cleaned 
up by the morning of February 15.  Legatt technical experts 
at the scene report the Philippine National Police (PNP) did 
a good job in properly collecting and cataloguing evidence. 
Seven Australian Federal Police post-blast and forensic 
experts are enroute to the Philippines to aid in the 
investigation, and are expected to arrive the evening of 
February 15.  Legatt notes the Australian experts will assess 
the collected evidence from the attacks and provide 
assistance to the PNP.  We have also offered FBI forensic 
assistance to the GRP, and a response is pending.  The PNP 
advised us that no arrests have been made.  Police 
authorities released a sketch of two suspects responsible for 
the Manila bus bombing, and video surveillance film is under 
review to identify possible suspects.  National Security 
Adviser Norberto Gonzales told the media late February 14 it 
is premature to give an assessment.  Both the Armed Forces of 
the Philippines and the PNP are on their highest alert 
status.  Col. Napoleon Tass, PNP Chief of Intelligence for 
the National Capitol Region (Metro Manila), when asked about 
the possible perpetrators of the bombing told PolOff, "Most 
of the information received thus far points to Muslim 
extremists.  I personally will not qualify which group 
exactly since we all know that they are in alliance.  Whoever 
they may be, they must be made to pay for the grief they have 
caused." 
Ricciardone