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, �0A;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