JOINT PHILIPPINE OPERATION NABS TERRORIST LEADER

S E C R E T MANILA 000192 NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2019 TAGS: MARR MCAP PREL PTER RP MASS SUBJECT: JOINT PHILIPPINE OPERATION NABS TERRORIST LEADER IN MINDANAO REF: A. MANILA 46: PHILIPPINE AUTHORITIES CAPTURE KEY TERRORIST ¶B. 2008 MANILA 2677: PHILIPPINE OPERATIONS IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES PRODUCING RESULTS Classified By: A/POL/C Mario A. Fernandez, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S/NF) Philippine authorities conducted a joint operation on January 29, involving elements of the Philippine military and law enforcement agencies, that resulted in the arrest of Mokasid Dilna, Chief of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Special Operations Group (MILF-SOG). Dilna was apprehended by the Philippine National Police in Zamboanga as he was returning from a meeting of MILF-SOG and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members in Basilan. Sensitive reporting indicates that Dilna had attended the meeting to discuss a potential alliance between the MILF-SOG, ASG, and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) -- the last two of which are listed as U.S. Foreign Terrorist Organizations. The ASG contingent at the meeting was reportedly led by top ASG operative and financier Khair Mundos. ¶2. (S/NF) The integrated Philippine operation, supported by U.S. intelligence and the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines, took place over several days, with Dilna's movements in the southern Philippines being monitored until he was captured. His arrest is the latest in a string of USG-supported successes against high value individuals in Mindanao, including the November 2008 arrest of senior JI facilitator Hajiruddin Dansalan (ref B) and the January capture of MILF-SOG member Omar Venancio (ref A). ¶3. (S/NF) Mokasid Dilna is the Chief of the MILF-SOG and a skilled bombmaker. A Filipino, he trained in Afghanistan with JI member and Bali bomber Umar Patek and now-deceased Rizal Day bomber Fathur Rahman al-Ghozi. He is wanted by Philippine authorities for his role in multiple bombings and terrorist attacks in the Philippines. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/ KENNEY