Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose: Recent terrorist plots in the Philippines

By Zachary Abuza

Earlier this month, Philippine authorities announced that they had arrested three Middle Eastern men, two Jordanians and one Egyptian, in February 2008. The three were allegedly involved in the advance stages of plotting a terrorist attacks on the U.S., British, Australian and Israeli embassies in Manila and Makati. Philippine Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita publicly stated that the group was in advance stages of plotting and that “Funding for the plot has been secured.”

Khalil Hasan al-Alih, a Jordanian national, was arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila upon his arrival on 15 February 2008. He supposedly dropped a package, which included incriminating evidence about the plot that was recovered by airport security officials. Between 17 and 29 February, authorities arrested another Jordanian national in Davao, identified as Walid Abu Aisem. An Egyptian national, not identified was also arrested. A Philippine accomplice of the three was arrested upon his return to the Philippines from the Middle East on 10 February.

Authorities quickly stated that the three were connected to Al Qaeda, and alleged - though without providing any evidence - that they were suspected of having connections to Jemaah Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf. While the government did not publicly link the two events, on 16 February, Philippine security authorities also arrested in Davao an Indonesian suspected of being a JI member, Mohamad Baehaqi, 26, and two Philippine Muslim accomplices, Cabiza Generoso and his 30-year-old son Mohar Abais Generoso. Baehaqi had been trained by the two leading members of JI in the Southern Philippines, Dulmatin and Umar Patek, after coming to the Philippines in mid-2003. The three had a cache of bomb-making materials including blasting caps, explosives and bomb-making diagram with notes, as well as small arms.

(Baehaqi is a suspect in the 27 March 2006 Jolo-Sulu Cooperative bombing that killed nine and October 2006 bombings in Makilala, General Santos and Cotabato that left over a dozen people dead.)

The Philippine Daily Inquirer, today, reported that American and Australian security forces are questioning the detainees.

While the plot appears to have been neutralized, the continuing threat of violence in the Philippines remains a problem. Over the weekend, authorities arrested two suspected terrorists, a member of the Abu Sayyaf, Mohammad Bani Macarya, and Jemaah Islamiyah, Almizbahr Bondial, on the resort island of Boracay. Though far from the Sulu archipelago, the ASG’s home turf, Boracay is the crown jewel of Philippine tourism. ASG members had staged high-profile kidnappings from Philippine and Malaysian dive resorts in the past. The presence of a suspected JI member in such a soft target can only bring to mind to Philippine security officials JI’s attacks in Bali, Indonesia in October 2002 and October 2005. Such an attack is well within their capabilities and intentions.

One should not forget that two of the 2002 Bali bombers, Dulmatin and Umar Patek are still believed to be in the Philippines with the Abu Sayyaf. Though a body was exhumed in mid February in Tawi Tawi, thought to be Dulmatin’s, neither the Philippine nor the US governments have announced the results of the DNA test.

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