PUTTING LITO REBIO ON THE REWARDS FOR JUSTICE LIST

S E C R E T MANILA 004389 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP, S/CT, AND EAP/MTS STATE ALSO FOR DS/DSS/DO/PETERSON AND DS/ICI/RFJ/SCHINDEL-GOMBIS USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP (LAWLESS/TOOLAN/BAILEY) JOINT STAFF/J5 (WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS) E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2016 TAGS: PTER PINR PINS ASEC PREL ID SN RP SUBJECT: PUTTING LITO REBIO ON THE REWARDS FOR JUSTICE LIST REF: A. 05 MANILA 2108 ¶B. 05 MANILA 2105 Classified By: (U) Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE. SEE PARA. 2. ¶2. (SBU) Embassy Manila requests Diplomatic Security add Jemaah Islamiyah operative Lito Rebio (aka Mu'awiyah, aka Nique, aka Muhammad Ali),a Singapore citizen of Indian descent born on January 14, 1965, to the Department of State's Rewards For Justice list. We recommend up to $1 million as a reward for information leading to his arrest or capture. ¶3. (S/NF) A former Lance Corporal in the Singapore Armed Forces, Rebio is an explosive expert and infantry tactics trainer. He has been directly linked to al-Qaida and is an intimate associate of JI operatives Marwan, Dulmatin, and Umar Patek. ¶4. (S/NF) Rebio has been reportedly in the southern Philippines since 2000. He is believed currently located in central Mindanao, where he is receiving support from elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Rebio continues to pass on his bomb-making skills, and has been connected to multiple terrorist incidents here, including the recent series of bombings in Mindanao. ¶5. (S/NF) The announcement of a new high-value reward, and subsequent publicity, will attack the web of social, religious, and cultural ties upon which Rebio and other JI terrorists have relied for their safety and freedom. The Rewards for Justice program has already helped restrict the movement of the JI terrorists Dulmatin and Umar Patek, and could have a significant impact on Rebio's freedom of action and ability to conduct JI activities in central Mindanao. ¶6. (U) The point of contact for this request is Regional Security Officer Jake Wohlman at 63-2-527-6300 x2290. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm KENNEY