DESIGNATION OF THE RAJAH SOLAIMAN MOVEMENT AS A

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 MANILA 002991

SIPDIS

NOFORN

STATE FOR EAP, EAP/PMBS, AND EB/WAYNE
STATE FOR S/CT/CHANDLER, INR/EAP
STATE FOR DS/DSS/ATA/VANCIO, SCHNAIBLE, AND SCHEEL
CIA FOR CTC
NSC FOR GREEN
DOD/ISA/AP FOR ALLEN
CDRUSPACOM FOR JIACG-CT/CURTIN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2015
TAGS: PTER ASEC EFIN PINR PREL RP
SUBJECT: DESIGNATION OF THE RAJAH SOLAIMAN MOVEMENT AS A
FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION

REF: A. TD-314/30582-04

B. TD-314/31184-04

C. TD-314/17506-05

D. TD-314/17434-05

E. TD-314/65734-03

F. MANILA 2356

G. TD-314/27849-02

H. MANILA 804

I. TD-314/37110-04

Classified By: (U) Political Officer Paul O'Friel
for reasons 1.4(b),(c),and (d).


1. (S) Summary and Action Request. The Rajah Solaiman
Movement (RSM) has emerged as one of the most dangerous
terrorist groups in the Philippines. Its members have been
involved in the 2004 Superferry 14 bombing, the synchronized
2005 "Valentine's Day" attacks in Manila, General Santos, and
Davao, and plots against the US Embassy and other Western
targets in Manila. Post recommends the Department of State
designate RSM as a foreign terrorist organization and pursue,
in cooperation with US Treasury and the Department of
Justice, the blocking and seizure of any of its assets under
Executive Order 13224. We also recommend designation of two
key individual RSM leaders and one of its principal members.
We recommend the Department of State consider pursuing, in
cooperation with the Philippine government, the inclusion of
RSM on the UN 1267 Committee's sanctions list. End Summary
and Action Request.

IRREFUTABLE INVOLVEMENT IN TERRORISM
--------------


2. (S/NF) RSM is the operational arm of the Balik Islam
Unity Congress movement led by Mariano Ahmad Lamarda.
Lamarda, a RSM member, has been directly implicated in plots
to bomb US Embassy Manila. He ordered two operatives to pose
as visa applicants to surveil the Embassy for a bombing
attack (refs A and B). RSM adherent Renendo Cain Dellosa
fabricated and planted the explosive device aboard Superferry
14 that killed over 100 Filipinos on February 27, 2004 in
what was the largest terrorist attack in the Philippines and
the second largest terrorist attack in Asia after the Bali
bombing. RSM also was implicated in the February 14, 2005
"Valentine's Day" bus bombing in the Manila suburb of Makati
that killed four people and wounded 87 others. Additionally,
RSM operative Jolo Sarda admitted that the 18 improvised
explosive devices, 400 kilograms of sulfur chloride, and 200
kilograms of potassium chloride recovered by the Philippine
military on March 23, 2005 were intended for an operation to
kill US citizens by detonating a car bomb in the Malate
neighborhood of Metro Manila (refs C and D).

DIRECT LINKS TO JI AND ASG AND FUNDING FROM AL-QAIDA
-------------- --------------


3. (S/NF) RSM has direct links to Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and
the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). The RSM bombers who perpetrated
the Superferry 14 and Valentine's Day bombings trained under
the tutelage of ASG and JI experts in Mindanao (ref E),and
RSM carried out the Superferry attack under the direct orders
of ASG leader Khadaffy Janjalani. (Note: Reportedly, one of
the wives of RSM founder Ahmed Santos is the sister of ASG
leader Khadaffy Janjalani. End note.) Sheik Hamoud Mahmoud
Al Lahem, an official in the NGO Islamic Studies Call and
Guidance (ISCAG) and an associate of Mohammad Jammal Khalifa
(the brother-in-law of Usama Bin Laden),has provided direct
support to RSM, as has Saudi financier Muhammad al-Sughayir,
a suspected al-Qaida associate (ref F). A May 3, 2002 PNP
raid on RSM established madrasahs in Luzon uncovered
documents that provided substantial evidence linking RSM to
the ASG and al-Qaida (ref G).

EMBRACING JIHAD TO ISLAMIZE THE PHILIPPINES
--------------


4. (S) According to Philippine National Police (PNP)
reports, RSM, which is named after a Muslim chieftain who
fought Spanish conquistador Miquel de Legaspi, was founded by
Ahmed Santos, a Philippine Christian who converted to Wahabi
Islam while working in Saudi Arabia in the early 1990s. Upon
his return to the Philippines in 1993, Santos established the
Fi Sabilillah Dawah Muslim Foundation to promote Islam among
fellow Filipinos who converted while working in the Middle
East (the so-called Balik Islam, or "Return to Islam"
movement - ref H). Using money from Arab sponsors, Santos
built a mosque and Muslim community center in the northern
Metro Manila neighborhood of Cubao, and hosted the "Discover
Islam" radio and television program to spread his propaganda.



5. (S) Becoming increasingly more radicalized and influenced
by Salafist thinking, Santos embraced a broader goal of
Islamizing the entire Philippines, and created the Jihad Fi
Luzon (JFL) movement based in the central Luzon provinces of
Tarlac and Pangasinan. JFL transformed itself into RSM in
2001 as Santos began to espouse violence as a means of
obtaining his objective. Examples:

-- (S) Santos established two training camps at madrasahs in
Tarlac and Pangasinan to teach aspiring militants to handle
small arms and explosives;

-- (S/NF) In January 2001, Santos contacted Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF) elements in Mindanao to arrange
training in bomb-making skills with JI and ASG operatives in
order to carry out operations in Manila (ref I);

-- (S) RSM began to use the Muslim community center in Cubao
as a center for screening and enlisting potential recruits
for training with the JI and ASG in Mindanao;

-- (S) RSM established connections with the radical ISCAG,
the Islamic World-Wide Mission (IWWM),the Islamic
Information Center (IIC),and the Darul Hijra Foundation
(DHF),all of which have links to al-Qaida.

GRP AUTHORITIES SUPPORT DESIGNATION AND 1267 LISTING
-------------- --------------


6. (S) GRP authorities have voiced alarm about RSM's growing
strength. Malacanang Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor
expressed concern to Poloff about the movement's expanding
presence in Manila and Luzon and its access to foreign
financing. The ability of RSM members to "blend in" due to
their Christian origins is a major worry. Separately, Police
Chief Superintendent Ismael Rafanan, the Director of the
PNP's Intelligence Group, noted the PNP has recommended the
GRP formally declare RSM a terrorist group and arrest its
leadership, who have thus far used a web of allies to avoid
imprisonment. National Intelligence Coordination Agency
Director General Cesar Garcia separately said designating the
RSM as a terrorist group would send a powerful signal to the
organization's foreign financiers and create a "firewall"
between the legitimate and illegitimate wings of Balik Islam.
All three officials indicated strong willingness to work
with US counterparts on building a case for joint 1267
designation, which could use unclassified court documents.
Because RSM is Luzon-based, designation would likely not
impact the GRP-MILF peace negotiations, they agreed.

DESIGNATING NAMED INDIVIDUALS
--------------


7. (S) Designation of RSM should also include the following
named individuals:

Ahmed Santos, (AKA Ahmad Santos, AKA Abu Lakay, AKA Jetty
Santos, AKA Ahmad Islam Santos, AKA Hilarion Del Rosario
Santos),Chairman of the Rajah Solaiman Movement;

Dawud Santos (AKA Tyrone Santos, AKA Dawoud Santos, AKA Dawud
Muslim Del Rosario Santos) brother of Ahmed Santos and the
Rajah Solaiman Movement's Chief of Military Affairs and
Commander of the RSM's Special Action Group/Rajah Solaiman
Revolutionary Movement; and,

Mariano Ahmad Lamarda (AKA Mariano Lomarda Y Mutia, AKA Ahmad
Dimplalado, AKA Ahmad Lomarda, AKA Nonoy Lomarda),leader of
the Balik Islam Unity Congress and member of the Rajah
Solaiman Movement.

Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm
MUSSOMELI