OCTOBER 6 UPDATE ON JOLO OPERATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 004260 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP 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: 10/06/2016 TAGS: PTER PREL MOPS MCAP RP SUBJECT: OCTOBER 6 UPDATE ON JOLO OPERATIONS REF: MANILA 3914 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Pol/C Scott Bellard for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) The ongoing Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) operation to capture or kill the Abu Sayyaf Group and Jemaah Islamiyah leadership on the southern island of Jolo is ending its tenth week. The key terrorist leaders -- Khadaffy Janjalani, Abu Sulaiman, Dulmatin, and Umar Patek -- appear to be in the area of Mt. Bagsak in central Jolo, the traditional stronghold of Abu Sayyaf warlord Radullan Sahiron. ¶2. (C) In an October 2 raid on a safehouse near the town of Patikul, AFP military and intelligence units captured Istiada Oemar Sovie, one of Dulmatin's wives, who is believed to be a major link in terrorists' logistics network. Sovie, an Indonesian national, is currently being held on immigration charges at Camp Navarro in Zamboanga, where the Military Intelligence Group-9 is interrogating her. ¶3. (C) Under the leadership of Brigadier General Rafael, the Task Force Comet Commander, the AFP has begun building a screen of Special Forces and Marine units around the suspected location of the terrorists, and implemented a robust series of patrols and ambushes in an effort to tighten the noose around Mt. Bagsak. By the end of the month, AFP troops on the island will be reinforced with the 1st and 2nd Marine Brigades, which will redeploy from their present location in Lanao del Sur. At sea, the Philippine Navy has maintained its maritime cordon, conducting over 2420 maritime interdictions since August 1. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm KENNEY