It is the war on terrorism that is at issue. Not the displacement of Saddam. The question is whether Bush is winning the war on terrorism? The following is what I mean by victory in war on terrorism.
President commended for crippling Abu Sayyaf
Manila | By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief | 28/12/2003
President Gloria Arroyo has been responsible for breaking the backbone of the dreaded hostage-taking Abu Sayyaf Group in the south, since the time she started her term in 2001, a senior government official said.
In a report, Roilo Golez, head of the National Security Council, said that the president has to be commended because in less than three years, she has decimated the Abu Sayyaf militants from 1,000 to 400.
Many of their leaders were captured and killed, Golez said.
About three Abu Sayyaf leaders were killed. Two of them were identified as Abu Sabaya and Mujib Susukan. Two other major leaders were arrested, the most recent of whom was Ghalib Andang, also known as Commander Robot.
But the government has failed to arrest or kill Khadaffy Janjalani, reportedly the leader of the Basilan faction of the Abu Sayyaf Group.
"He is constantly on the run. With government troops hot on his heels, he will be captured soon," said Golez.
With the reduced number of the Abu Sayyaf members, the threat of the Jemaah Islamiyah has been placed under control, said Golez.
More than 200 Jemaah Islamiyah members are already in jail in the Philippines and in other countries in the region like Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia.
US President George Bush has praised the Philippines and has used it as a model in successfully fighting terrorism, said Golez.
The recent bombing in Jolo which killed one soldier and wounded another soldier is an isolated case, Golez said. Many experts believe that it was a retaliatory attack that stemmed from the capture of Andang.
"The explosion in Jolo is an isolated incident and we must not be unduly alarmed," Arroyo confirmed in a statement from the presidential palace.
"We will track down the perpetrators of this foiled bombing and step up our security measures nationwide," she added.
She also praised the joint military and police team and the civilian community for the discovery of the bomb plot.
gulf-news.com |
