ARREST OF ASG OPERATIVE AL-SHARIE AMIRUDDIN A

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 001885 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MTS AND S/CT USPACOM FOR FPA HUSO SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP FOR ALLEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2016 TAGS: PTER PREL MOPS KPAL BX ID MY RP SUBJECT: ARREST OF ASG OPERATIVE AL-SHARIE AMIRUDDIN A SIGNIFICANT CATCH Classified By: Political Counselor Scott Bellard for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. The recent arrest of Al-Sharie Amiruddin y Mohammad Nur, aka Abu Omar, is a significant catch for the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Although a mid-level operative, Amiruddin was an early Abu Sayyaf Group adherent, and involved in intelligence and recruiting activities in Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. He has admitted to involvement in the Das Palmas and Sipadan kidnappings and to plotting new attacks against the popular beach resorts of Boracay and Dakak. Embassy working groups will examine the possibility of a recommendation for payment under the US Rewards for Justice program. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Elements of Military Intelligence Group 9 (MIG 9) arrested Al-Sharie Amiruddin y Mohammad Nur, aka Abu Omar, an Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) planner wanted for his role in the Sipadan kidnappings, on April 24 in Zamboanga City. During his initial interrogation, Amiruddin stated he had undergone 24 months of intensive training from June 1991 to 1993 with his cousin, ASG leader Khadaffy Janjalani, in Marawi City. The first 18 months focused largely on Islamic theory, while the last six were devoted to military subjects, such as basic explosives, tactics, guerrilla warfare, the use of the AK-47, M14, and M16 rifles and the .45 caliber pistol, and self-defense training in taekwando and karate. The military training took place at Camp Busrah in Kalinugas, Lanao del Sur. ¶3. (C) Amiruddin claimed to his interrogators that four foreign nationals were present during the training, which winnowed an initial class of 300 students down to 67. These were Jamal Khalifa, a Saudi national, who served as the finance officer, and three Palestinians -- Abu Rasheed, Abu Mousad, and Abu Ibbada. ¶4. (C) Following his training, Amiruddin joined the ASG as an intelligence officer, with responsibilities for surveillance and recruiting activity. He visited Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei repeatedly in this capacity, working in concert with a branch of the Tabligh organization located in Marawi City. ¶5. (C) Amiruddin admitted he was one of the planners for the Dos Palmas and Sipadan kidnappings, and said he had personally conducted reconnaissance of each site before the ASG raids. Amiruddin confessed he had been involved in planning kidnapping operations targeting the popular beach resorts of Boracay and Dakak at the time of his arrest. Boracay, one of the Philippines' major tourist sites, is a popular haunt of both foreigners and the Philippine elite. Philippine authorities have also implicated him in the 1993 kidnapping of the American missionary Fr. Charles Walton. ¶6. (C) COMMENT. Amiruddin is one of the most wanted terrorists in the Philippines, with 13 outstanding warrants for his arrest. Although a mid-level operative, his long-standing association with the ASG and knowledge of its activities makes him a valuable prize. Embassy working groups will now examine the possibility of a recommendation for payment under the US Rewards for Justice program. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm Kenney