SULU GOVERNOR INJURED IN IED EXPLOSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 001037 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MTS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2019 TAGS: PGOV MOPS PTER PINR KISL RP SUBJECT: SULU GOVERNOR INJURED IN IED EXPLOSION REF: MANILA 985: ICRC HOSTAGE: 100 DAYS AND COUNTING Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Larry Memmott, reasons 1.4 (b),(d). ¶1. (C) Sulu provincial governor Abdelsakur Tan reportedly received slight injuries to his hands May 13 when an improvised explosive device hidden in a motorcycle exploded at a provincial capitol complex in Patikul on the island of Jolo in the southern Philippines. Three of Tan's security escorts and a local mayor also were wounded when the device detonated at around 12:30 p.m., apparently triggered by radio control. Governor Tan appears to have been the target of the attack, which may have been in retaliation for an encounter on May 12 between combined Philippine police and military units and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) terrorists in the remote area of Indanan on Jolo Island, during which the ASG suffered heavy casualties. ¶2. (C) Despite significant Philippine government successes against ASG and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorists on Jolo Island during the last three years, areas of ASG influence remain, as the kidnapping of three International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) workers January 15 (reftel) and the May 7 ambush killing of the Philippine National Police Senior Superintendent Julasirim Kasim -- both on Jolo Island -- demonstrate. Philippine troops have stepped up operations against ASG leader Albader Parad, who has claimed responsibility for the ICRC kidnappings and is thought to be behind many of the recent clashes, although government forces are proceeding with caution since the ASG still holds Italian ICRC hostage Eugenio Vagni. ¶3. (SBU) Following the attack, Tan made a live appearance on television denouncing the attack and saying he was not seriously injured. The Mission will continue to monitor the situation for further developments. Memmott