Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MANILA3790
2006-09-08 09:19:00
SECRET
Embassy Manila
Cable title:
SEPTEMBER 8 UPDATE ON JOLO OPERATIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO4778 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHML #3790 2510919 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 080919Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY MANILA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2883 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//OSD/ISA/AP// IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T MANILA 003790
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR S/CT AND EAP/MTS
USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO
SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP (LAWLESS/TOOLAN/BAILEY)
JS/J5 (WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2016
TAGS: PTER MOPS MCAP PREL RP
SUBJECT: SEPTEMBER 8 UPDATE ON JOLO OPERATIONS
REF: A. MANILA 3670
B. MANILA 3560
C. MANILA 3401
D. MANILA 3352
E. MANILA 3299
F. MANILA 3218
Classified By: (U) Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Paul W. Jones
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
S E C R E T MANILA 003790
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR S/CT AND EAP/MTS
USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO
SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP (LAWLESS/TOOLAN/BAILEY)
JS/J5 (WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2016
TAGS: PTER MOPS MCAP PREL RP
SUBJECT: SEPTEMBER 8 UPDATE ON JOLO OPERATIONS
REF: A. MANILA 3670
B. MANILA 3560
C. MANILA 3401
D. MANILA 3352
E. MANILA 3299
F. MANILA 3218
Classified By: (U) Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Paul W. Jones
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) The Armed Forces of the Philippines continues to
track fleeing Jemaah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)
leaders in the fifth week of its operation to capture or kill
the terrorist leadership on the island of Jolo. Philippine
Marines suffered six killed and 20 wounded in an encounter
with ASG elements in the vicinity of Patikul in central Jolo
on September 4, while two members of the US-trained Light
Reaction Company (LRC) were killed and five wounded in a
September 7 clash with the ASG on Mount Tukay in the
southwestern corner of the island. There are no accurate
reports of ASG casualties, although the AFP believes at least
an equal number of terrorists were killed in the fighting,
which took place in close quarters.
2. (S) Khadaffy Janjalani, Umar Patek, and Dulmatin are
believed to be in the Patikul area within the traditional
stronghold of ASG Commander Radulan Sahiron. Abu Sulaiman
has split off from the group and is thought to be in the
vicinity of Jolo City. Philippine Naval Special Operations
Units are staged to seize Sulaiman once his location can be
precisely identified.
3. (C) An LRC early morning raid on a safe house in Jolo
City September 5 netted two Filipino nationals with false
Malaysian and Indonesian identification. The two
individuals, who are now undergoing interrogation, are
believed to be members of Abu Sulaiman's logistics network.
FBI agents assigned to JSOTF helped with site exploitation
and examination of the documents and cell phones seized
during the raid. They are also examining the material
recovered after the September 7 clash on Mount Tukay, which
includes operational manuals.
4. (C) US Navy ships and aircraft continue to support the
Philippine maritime cordon around Jolo. The Philippine Navy
(PN) has conducted 1259 interdictions since the start of
"Operation Ultimatum" on August 1. The USNS Stockham, which
arrived off Jolo September 7, helped the PN with maintenance
on two of their light patrol craft, enabling them to sustain
operations.
5. (C) Brigadier General Ruben Rafael, the new Task Force
Comet Commander who took command on September 4, appears to
be an aggressive officer, quick to react to actionable
intelligence. He has asked for additional staff from
SOUTHCOM to help him conduct rapid planning.
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm
Jones
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR S/CT AND EAP/MTS
USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO
SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP (LAWLESS/TOOLAN/BAILEY)
JS/J5 (WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2016
TAGS: PTER MOPS MCAP PREL RP
SUBJECT: SEPTEMBER 8 UPDATE ON JOLO OPERATIONS
REF: A. MANILA 3670
B. MANILA 3560
C. MANILA 3401
D. MANILA 3352
E. MANILA 3299
F. MANILA 3218
Classified By: (U) Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Paul W. Jones
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) The Armed Forces of the Philippines continues to
track fleeing Jemaah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)
leaders in the fifth week of its operation to capture or kill
the terrorist leadership on the island of Jolo. Philippine
Marines suffered six killed and 20 wounded in an encounter
with ASG elements in the vicinity of Patikul in central Jolo
on September 4, while two members of the US-trained Light
Reaction Company (LRC) were killed and five wounded in a
September 7 clash with the ASG on Mount Tukay in the
southwestern corner of the island. There are no accurate
reports of ASG casualties, although the AFP believes at least
an equal number of terrorists were killed in the fighting,
which took place in close quarters.
2. (S) Khadaffy Janjalani, Umar Patek, and Dulmatin are
believed to be in the Patikul area within the traditional
stronghold of ASG Commander Radulan Sahiron. Abu Sulaiman
has split off from the group and is thought to be in the
vicinity of Jolo City. Philippine Naval Special Operations
Units are staged to seize Sulaiman once his location can be
precisely identified.
3. (C) An LRC early morning raid on a safe house in Jolo
City September 5 netted two Filipino nationals with false
Malaysian and Indonesian identification. The two
individuals, who are now undergoing interrogation, are
believed to be members of Abu Sulaiman's logistics network.
FBI agents assigned to JSOTF helped with site exploitation
and examination of the documents and cell phones seized
during the raid. They are also examining the material
recovered after the September 7 clash on Mount Tukay, which
includes operational manuals.
4. (C) US Navy ships and aircraft continue to support the
Philippine maritime cordon around Jolo. The Philippine Navy
(PN) has conducted 1259 interdictions since the start of
"Operation Ultimatum" on August 1. The USNS Stockham, which
arrived off Jolo September 7, helped the PN with maintenance
on two of their light patrol craft, enabling them to sustain
operations.
5. (C) Brigadier General Ruben Rafael, the new Task Force
Comet Commander who took command on September 4, appears to
be an aggressive officer, quick to react to actionable
intelligence. He has asked for additional staff from
SOUTHCOM to help him conduct rapid planning.
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm
Jones