Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MANILA4660
2006-11-09 09:02:00
SECRET
Embassy Manila
Cable title:
NOVEMBER 9 UPDATE ON JOLO OPERATIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO4253 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHML #4660 3130902 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 090902Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY MANILA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3870 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 9461 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 2945 RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHHMUNS/COMSOCPAC HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T MANILA 004660
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP, PM, AND EAP/MTS
USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO AND J5
SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP
JOINT STAFF/J5 (WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2016
TAGS: PTER MARR MASS MOPS MCAP PREL
SUBJECT: NOVEMBER 9 UPDATE ON JOLO OPERATIONS
REF: MANILA 4508 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: (U) Pol/C Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
S E C R E T MANILA 004660
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP, PM, AND EAP/MTS
USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO AND J5
SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP
JOINT STAFF/J5 (WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2016
TAGS: PTER MARR MASS MOPS MCAP PREL
SUBJECT: NOVEMBER 9 UPDATE ON JOLO OPERATIONS
REF: MANILA 4508 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: (U) Pol/C Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C/REL AUS) The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
operation to capture or kill the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and
Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leadership on the island of Jolo is
ending its 15th week. Khadaffy Janjalani, Abu Solaiman,
Dulmatin, and Umar Patek are believed to have split up into
smaller groups to avoid capture, and may be seeking to link
up with a boat to flee the island.
2. (S/REL AUS) 3rd Marine Brigade Commander, Brigadier
General Juancho Sabban, told poloff on November 9 that
Philippine Marine troops had seized a hidden boat November
7/8 in the vicinity of Kalingkalang in the southeastern
corner of Jolo that the terrorists may have been hoping to
use to escape. Sabban claimed that his Marines had
infiltrated a source inside the ASG logistical network
providing support to the terrorist leaders, and hoped that
this could provide a further breakthrough leading to their
capture. He said the Rewards for Justice program was a
valuable tool in this effort, noting that his men were
circulating among the population small, card-sized photos of
the wanted terrorists. Sabban observed that the campaign to
depict the JI as foreigners and criminals was having an
impact and helping to diminish popular support for their
cause. (Comment: Embassy and JSOTF-P cannot yet confirm
this operation. End comment)
3. (C/REL AUS) In his November 3 visit to Jolo, MG Eugenio
Cedo, Commander of Western Mindanao Command, told his
assembled officers that none of them would leave the island
until all the high value targets were either captured or
killed. Philippine Marine, Special Forces, and Scout Ranger
units continue actively to patrol in central and southern
Jolo and to occupy key terrain and camps formerly controlled
by the ASG/JI. Brigadier General Rafael, the Task Force
Comet Commander, recently proposed the establishment of a new
Joint Special Operations Task Force under TF Comet to
coordinate and synchronize the activity of all Philippine
special operations forces on the island, including Marine
Force Reconnaissance, Scout Rangers, Special Operations, and
Navy Special Warfare units. The proposal remains under
consideration.
4. (SBU) The AFP is maintaining a vigorous series of medical
civic action programs on Jolo. At a November medical mission
in the Patikul region, an area formerly controlled by the
ASG, over 600 patients turned up for treatment. Another
medical program is planned for Indanan on November 11. PM
Assistant Secretary Hillen will have the opportunity to visit
this site during his trip to the island that day.
5. (S/REL AUS) The Philippine Navy's maritime cordon around
Jolo remains a significant factor for the terrorists, with
recent intelligence reporting indicating that they are
worried about the effects of the blockade. To date, the
Philippine Navy (backed up by the intelligence, surveillance,
and reconnaissance support of JTF-515) has conducted over
3300 maritime interdictions since the August 1 start of
"Operation Ultimatum."
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm
KENNEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP, PM, AND EAP/MTS
USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO AND J5
SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP
JOINT STAFF/J5 (WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2016
TAGS: PTER MARR MASS MOPS MCAP PREL
SUBJECT: NOVEMBER 9 UPDATE ON JOLO OPERATIONS
REF: MANILA 4508 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: (U) Pol/C Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C/REL AUS) The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
operation to capture or kill the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and
Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leadership on the island of Jolo is
ending its 15th week. Khadaffy Janjalani, Abu Solaiman,
Dulmatin, and Umar Patek are believed to have split up into
smaller groups to avoid capture, and may be seeking to link
up with a boat to flee the island.
2. (S/REL AUS) 3rd Marine Brigade Commander, Brigadier
General Juancho Sabban, told poloff on November 9 that
Philippine Marine troops had seized a hidden boat November
7/8 in the vicinity of Kalingkalang in the southeastern
corner of Jolo that the terrorists may have been hoping to
use to escape. Sabban claimed that his Marines had
infiltrated a source inside the ASG logistical network
providing support to the terrorist leaders, and hoped that
this could provide a further breakthrough leading to their
capture. He said the Rewards for Justice program was a
valuable tool in this effort, noting that his men were
circulating among the population small, card-sized photos of
the wanted terrorists. Sabban observed that the campaign to
depict the JI as foreigners and criminals was having an
impact and helping to diminish popular support for their
cause. (Comment: Embassy and JSOTF-P cannot yet confirm
this operation. End comment)
3. (C/REL AUS) In his November 3 visit to Jolo, MG Eugenio
Cedo, Commander of Western Mindanao Command, told his
assembled officers that none of them would leave the island
until all the high value targets were either captured or
killed. Philippine Marine, Special Forces, and Scout Ranger
units continue actively to patrol in central and southern
Jolo and to occupy key terrain and camps formerly controlled
by the ASG/JI. Brigadier General Rafael, the Task Force
Comet Commander, recently proposed the establishment of a new
Joint Special Operations Task Force under TF Comet to
coordinate and synchronize the activity of all Philippine
special operations forces on the island, including Marine
Force Reconnaissance, Scout Rangers, Special Operations, and
Navy Special Warfare units. The proposal remains under
consideration.
4. (SBU) The AFP is maintaining a vigorous series of medical
civic action programs on Jolo. At a November medical mission
in the Patikul region, an area formerly controlled by the
ASG, over 600 patients turned up for treatment. Another
medical program is planned for Indanan on November 11. PM
Assistant Secretary Hillen will have the opportunity to visit
this site during his trip to the island that day.
5. (S/REL AUS) The Philippine Navy's maritime cordon around
Jolo remains a significant factor for the terrorists, with
recent intelligence reporting indicating that they are
worried about the effects of the blockade. To date, the
Philippine Navy (backed up by the intelligence, surveillance,
and reconnaissance support of JTF-515) has conducted over
3300 maritime interdictions since the August 1 start of
"Operation Ultimatum."
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm
KENNEY