PHILIPPINE MILITARY KILLS ASG URBAN TERRORIST

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 000102 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP, PM, S/CT, AND EAP/MTS USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO AND J5 SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP (TOOLAN/BAILEY) JOINT STAFF/J5 (WILKES/ROBINSON) E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2017 TAGS: PTER MARR MASS MOPS MCAP PREL RP SUBJECT: PHILIPPINE MILITARY KILLS ASG URBAN TERRORIST GROUP LEADER REF: A. MANILA 0068 ¶B. MANILA 0072 Classified By: (U) Acting DCM Scott Bellard for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C/REL AUS) In follow up to the successful January 6 operation that led to the deaths of five Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) terrorists and one suspected Jemaah Islamiyah operative near the southern island of Tawi-Tawi (ref a),elements of Military Intelligence Group-9, the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Scout Rangers killed Binang Sali AKA Abu Freedom in a January 9 raid on Sali's safe house near the town of Patikul on the island of Jolo. Sali was a leader of the ASG's Urban Terrorist Group and the subject of a reward (amount to be determined) under the U.S. Department of Defense's Rewards program. He was responsible for numerous assassinations and kidnappings. ¶2. (U) Including Sali, the Armed Forces of the Philippines have to date killed 38 terrorists and captured 15 others since the August 1, 2006 onset of "Operation Ultimatum" on Jolo. ¶3. (C/REL AUS) Comment: the January 6 and January 9 actions reflect the Philippine military's increasing ability -- with U.S. help -- to link intelligence to operations. Both operations also demonstrated improved operations security and compartmentalization, as well as the determination of the Philippine government -- with President Arroyo's full and highly visible support (ref b) -- to go after all terrorists in the Philippines, including the high-value targets still believed to be in hiding in northeast Jolo. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm Jones