THE military placed the entire Mindanao on full alert after receiving reports of a terror plot coming on the heels of the al-Qaeda failed attempt to smuggle on cargo planes explosives to be used on targets in the United States. Citing intelligence reports, military sources who refused to be identified said a terrorist cell of the Jemaah Islamiyah group will sow terror in Mindanao with the aid of secessionist groups including the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The Jemaah Islamiyah is believed linked to Osama Bin Laden’s al-Qaeda organization.
The sources said that the terrorist cell allied with JI will attack villages in Mindanao particularly in Sulu, Zamboanga, the Socsksargen growth area, Sarangani province, Davao Del Sur and Davao Del Norte.
The military received reports of a shipment of arms coming from Libya which uses Mindanao as a transshipment point for highly sophisticated firearms passing through Malaysia.
A Volvo-powered speed boat will drop off the arms cache in Jolo, Sulu and Liguasan Marsh in Maguindanao province and will be received by the MILF top commanders in the area, intelligence reports alleged.
The sources said the breakaway MILF 104th, 105th, 106th and the 107th Brigade Commands have been monitored preparing to launch widespread hostilities in the region, including attacks on vital communications and power lines, in cooperation with JI.
Military and police authorities recently ordered heightened security at the country’s sea and air ports following the foiled attempt to smuggle explosives into the United States which President Barack Oba-ma called a “credible terror threat.”
Jerry Adlaw, Journal Online
