AFP OPERATION AGAINST ASG/JI TERRORISTS

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 003915 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR PM, S/CT, AND EAP/MTS USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP (LAWLESS/TOOLAN/BAILEY) JOINT STAFF/J5 (WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS) E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2016 TAGS: PTER PREL MOPS MCAP RP SUBJECT: AFP OPERATION AGAINST ASG/JI TERRORISTS UNDERSCORES TRANSNATIONAL TERRORISM LINKS Classified By: (U) Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Armed Forces of the Philippines operations on Jolo have provided indisputable evidence, including sophisticated improvised explosive devices similar to what U.S. troops have encountered in Iraq and Afghanistan, of the Abu Sayyaf Group's and Jemaah Islamiyah's transnational terrorist links. Embassy and U.S. military public affairs officers are working with their Philippine military counterparts on a press event that will highlight the deadly and transnational nature of this terrorist threat in order to help sustain public support for "Operation Ultimatum." END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) "Operation Ultimatum," the ongoing Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) effort to capture or kill the senior Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leadership on the island of Jolo, has provided indisputable evidence of the transnational nature of both terrorist groups. SOPHISTICATED BOMB-MAKING FACTORY -------------- ¶3. (S/REL AUS/PHIL) After overrunning the main ASG base camp on the western slopes of Mount Tumatangis on August 4, the AFP discovered a reinforced bunker complex, built to shelter over a hundred terrorists. In the camp, the AFP found a bomb-making factory, capable of producing highly sophisticated improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that were designed to inflict mass casualties. Packed in seemingly innocuous household objects, such as shampoo bottles and powdered milk cans, the devices contained hundreds of 8-millimeter ball-bearings and cut up pieces of rebar packed in explosive material with timing devices and electronic anti-tamper sensors. The degree of skill evident in the IEDs goes beyond previous ASG bomb-making efforts. A Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialist assisting the AFP in analyzing the devices noted that disturbingly the bombs incorporated advanced techniques that U.S. troops have encountered in Iraq and Afghanistan, providing clear indications that al-Qaida trained JI operatives Dulmatin and Umar Patek are passing on their skills. The household and marketplace objects used to hide these IEDs suggest the intent to use them in markets, mass transit, or other settings designed to inflict maximum civilian casualties and public horror. KIDNAP CONTRACT AND PROPAGANDA -------------- ¶4. (S/REL AUS/PHIL) An AFP September 4 raid on an ASG safe house in Jolo City uncovered a treasure trove of Saudi-origin medical supplies, propaganda material, documents, and CD-roms that provide an inside look at ASG operations. FBI agents on temporary assignment to JSOTF-P helped with site and document exploitation. One chilling document discovered was a contract, which appears to have been signed by Khadaffy Janjalani, Abu Solaiman, Isnilon Hapilon, and other senior ASG leaders, on how to handle and share the profits from kidnap-for-ransom victims. The FBI agents obtained the original of this document and have sent it to the FBI Crime Laboratory in Washington for further analysis. An English-language propaganda pamphlet titled "Al-Harakatul Islamiyyah's Frequently Asked Questions," goes at length to justify terrorist activities, including killing fellow Muslims (non-believers who claim to be Muslims) and civilians (all enemies of Allah -- military or civilian -- are one in the same); kidnap for ransom (not to gain money but to support future operations); and, raping women hostages. (Note: Al-Harakatul Islamiyyah is the official Arabic name for the ASG. End note.) The CD-roms, now being examined by a U.S. Army document exploitation team, contain training films, financial records, and password-protected documents. ¶5. (S/REL AUS/PHIL) Light Reaction Company 3 attacked a camp belonging to ASG Sub-Commander Albader Parad near Mount Tukay MANILA 00003915 002 OF 002 in southwestern Jolo on September 6. After fierce fighting, the ASG group fled, abandoning 14 rucksacks, some of them blood stained, which yielded fundamentalist propaganda and an array of bomb-making material, similar to that discovered on August 4. In addition to detailed schematics, the AFP found modified cell phone batteries, blasting caps, circuit boards, and remote control detonation devices. BUILDING SUPPORT FOR ONGOING OPERATIONS BY DEMONSTRATING THE TERRORISTS' TRUE NATURE -------------- ¶6. (C) U.S. Embassy, JSOTF-P, and Joint US Military Assistance Group public affairs officers are working with their AFP counterparts on a press event that will highlight these discoveries and emphasize the deadly and transnational nature of the terrorist threat that the Philippines faces. Demonstrating the terrorists' true nature will help sustain public support for the continued AFP operations on Jolo. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm KENNEY