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Southeast Asia

Police arrest widow of Jemaah Islamiyah leader Marwan

2018-02-26

[RAPPLER] The widow of notorious Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leader Marwan has been tossed in the clink Youse'll never take me alive coppers!... [BANG!]... Ow!... I quit! on Sunday, February 25, the Philippine National Police announced. Juromee Dongon was arrested by police operatives in an operation in Tubod, Lanao del Norte early Sunday morning. Dongon was married to a big shot of the notorious Abu Sayyaf ...also known as al-Harakat al-Islamiyya, an Islamist terror group based in Jolo, Basilan and Zamboanga. Since its inception in the early 1990s, the group has carried out bombings, kidnappings, murders, head choppings, and extortion in their uniquely Islamic attempt to set up an independent Moslem province in the Philippines. Abu Sayyaf forces probably number less than 300 cadres. The group is closely allied with remnants of Indonesia's Jemaah Islamiya and has loose ties with MILF and MNLF who sometimes provide cannon fodder... kidnap-for-ransom group, Khadaffy Janjalani. After his death in 2006 she married Malaysian bombmaker Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, who was killed in 2015 in the Philippines, police said. Aside from Dongon, arrested were her sister Lorilie Atta y Dongon and SPO4 Andy Atta, Lorilie's husband. Confiscated from the 3 were: One fragmentation grenade 6 blasting caps One blasting cap assembly One electric detonating cord One non-electric detonating cord One plastic container Two sling bags One 9mm Glock 17 pistol issued by the PNP 3 magazines for the Glock 17 pistol 37 live ammunition for the 9mm pistol "[Dongon] assists, associates, networks and supports terrorist groups," regional police front man Superintendent Lemuel Gonda told Agence La Belle France-Presse. "Juromee is linked with Abu Sayyaf during the time of Janjalani and then later Jemaah Islamiyah," he added, referring to a Southeast Asian bully boy group. Marwan was a leading member of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and a suspect in the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings that killed 202 people as well as in two deadly Philippine attacks. He died in a raid in the southern Philippines that also left 44 police commandos dead. The US had offered a $5 million bounty for him. Father of Romeo Dongon arrested In a separate operation, cops also arrested Romeo Dongon, alias "Faisal" at Sitio Tinago, San Juan, Baroy, Lanao del Norte, and found illegal firearms in his possession. Dongon's daughter Norein Dongon Santos was also arrested. Romeo Dongon is the father of Renierlo Dongon, who was the terrorist who had a love affair with a police official, Superintendent Cristina Nobleza. It can be recalled that Nobleza and Dongon were arrested back in April 2017, when the two attempted to evade capture during a police operation against the Abu Sayyaf in Bohol. (READ: Cop detained over alleged plot to rescue ASG in Bohol) The team was composed of operatives from the regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Special Action Force, provincial and municipal cops. Cops seized the following from the house: One Colt MK1V .45 caliber pistol One magazine of caliber .45 bullets 3 pieces of caliber .45 cartridges One M61 fragmentation hand grenade One gray empty blasting cup One two-feet yellow detonating cord Cops also confiscated a Samsung tablet, a Lenovo laptop with a handbag case, a 4 mobile phones, and two electrical wires. Dongon family's terror links An exclusive report by Rappler's Maria Ressa back in April revealed that the Dongon family is no stranger to controversial terror-linked marriages. Zainab Dongon, another Dongon daughter, was the wife of Zulkifli Bin Hir, alias Marwan. Zainab had also married the brother of Abu Sayyaf founder Abdujarak Janjalani, Khadaffy Janjalani, who was killed by government forces. Another sister, Aminah, married Jainal Antel Sali, also known as Abu Solaiman. A 41-year-old civil engineer, he was Khadaffy Janjalani's deputy. Romeo Dongon's wife, Judith Dongon, was arrested with Renierlo and Nobleza in the April 2017 incident in Clarin, Bohol. Norein herself is apparently the wife of Ahmad Santos, the founder and leader of the Rajah Solaiman Movement until his arrest in 2005. They have been put under the custody of the CIDG, which handles high-level suspects and criminals.

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Southeast Asia

Conviction of 2 Indonesians in 2003 airport blast

2017-04-12

[RAPPLER] MANILA, Philippines ‐ The Court of Appeals (CA) upheld the murder conviction of two Indonesian bandidos bandidos bad boys involved in the bombing of the Awang Airport in Manguindanao in 2003. In a March 30 ruling, the CA’s Former Special Sixteenth Division affirmed the decision issued by the Pasig City Regional Trial Court, which sentenced Zulkifli Julkifli alias Ahmad Faisal and Taufiq Rifqi, to reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years of imprisonment. The two, members of the notorious Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM), were found guilty of murder with double attempted murder for the bombing of the airport located in Barangay Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao. The February 2003 incident killed Sgt. Nelson Corpuz and injured several others. The RSM also worked with Jemaah Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf ...also known as al-Harakat al-Islamiyya, an Islamist terror group based in Jolo, Basilan and Zamboanga. Since its inception in the early 1990s, the group has carried out bombings, kidnappings, murders, head choppings, and extortion in their uniquely Islamic attempt to set up an independent Moslem province in the Philippines. Abu Sayyaf forces probably number less than 300 cadres. The group is closely allied with remnants of Indonesia's Jemaah Islamiya and has loose ties with MILF and MNLF who sometimes provide cannon fodder... on the Superferry bombing in 2004 and the Valentine’s Day bombings in 2005. (READ: 9/11 and the Black Flag movement) "The Court finds no compelling ground to disturb the factual findings of the RTC. As herein before pronounced, the rule is well-settled that factual findings of the trial court regarding the credibility of witnesses are accorded great weight and utmost respect given that trial courts have first hand observation of the witnesses’ demeanor while testifying in court," the CA said in a 23-page decision penned by Associate Justice Marie Christine Azcarraga-Jacob. The appellate court also increase the moral damages due to the heirs of Corpuz from P50,000 to P75,000.

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Southeast Asia

Two Islamist militants nabbed in Zamboanga City

2016-04-17

Philippine security forces captured 2 Islamist militants in separate operations in Zamboanga City, several nautical miles south of Basilan province where military forces are currently fightg the Abu Sayyaf. Police said an Abu Sayyaf militant, Johan Jaalam, was arrested Saturday. Officials say the militant faces a series of criminal charges. A leader of the militant group Rajah Solaiman Movement – Melquiades Abrera II – was also nabbed on Friday in the village of Santa Barbara. Abrera, also known as Mikhail Abdulasis Abrera, was one of the organizers of the terrorist movement. It was not immediately known whether Abrera was planning an attack in Zamboanga. The Rajah Solaiman Movement, founded by Ahmed Santos, a Muslim convert, seeks to establish an Islamic state in the Philippines and is working with the Abu Sayyaf. In June 2008, Washington designated Santos and seven senior members of the Rajah Solaiman Movement – Angelo Trinidad, Pio de Vera, Redendo Dellosa, Feliciano de los Reyes, Dino Amor Pareja, Ricardo Ayeras and Reuben Lavilla – as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. Oh my!

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Southeast Asia

Source: Rajah Solaiman Movement making a comeback

2016-03-01

[InterAksyon] The radical Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM) has been trying to rebuild itself by recruiting more youths into their ranks in the past several months. A police intelligence officer based in Philippine National Police general headquarters said that the intelligence establishment has monitored RSM recruiting new members, and "most of their members now are younger and more aggressive." "We are monitoring their cells ... one in Cavite and the other one in Novaliches in Quezon City," the intelligence officer said. There have been at least two cells of the RSM suspected to be used as springboard for launching terror attacks in Luzon and even in the Manila area. RSM is a group of former Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) who had converted to Islam as their new religion. It was founded by Hilarious del Rosario, alias 'Backhand Santos', sometime in the 90's. It has been involved in several deadly attacks in past that have killed dozens of people and injured scores more. Their deadliest attack was the bombing of a Superferry on February 27, 2004 in Manila Bay. Akhmad Santos was arrested by security forces in the later part of 2005 in Zamboanga City, and has been detained ever since in Bicutan, Taguig City. The intelligence officer said their concern is that RSM veterans may serve as guides or advisers to newly-trained recruits of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in launching attacks outside their usual area of operation. He added that at least 100 new BIFF recruits have completed their training in bomb-making, and these new recruits could be assigned test missions outside their home bases.

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Southeast Asia

Source: Terrorist special ops group formed ahead of Phillipine papal visit

2014-11-18

[InterAksyon] A source from Philippine National Police intelnligence said a newly-formed jihadist group, suspected to be led by Jemaah Islamiyah (JI)-trained Abdul Basit Usman, is in Luzon ahead of the five-day visit of Pope Francis this January 2015. The group is apparently a 15-man so-called Special Operations Group (SOG), the source said. The SOG is claimed to be comprised of members of the Al Hansar Khilafa, which is said to have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The source said that the deployment of the SOG from Usman's Group started last June, and may have something to do with the Pope's forthcoming visit. He said the formation of Usman's group, called the "Bangsamoro Justice Movement (BJM)" may have been disrupted after the arrest of Khair Mundos this June and that of Ricardo Ayeras of the Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM). Mundos, a key leader of the ASG, was suspected to be casing possible routes to be taken by the pontiff when he visits the country from January 15 to 19, while Ayeras was nabbed by the police in Quezon City early last month over a simple traffic violation. The source estimated that the combat strength of the Al Hansar Khilafa could be as many as 60 men. He said, "Their members come from the Rajah Solaiman Movement-Abu Sayyaf Group of the Isnilon Hapilon faction and Usman's former men with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)," adding that there are also some members from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in the Al Hansar Khilafa, with three members of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) also making up the other members of the group. The source added that the members of Usman's SOG are in Luzon, with some of them possibly in Metro Manila and in the Southern Tagalog Region and all of them well trained in handling explosives. A separate intelligence source had said earlier that the terror cell in Luzon is headed by an Islamic cleric from Bangladesh. He said four foreigners who joined the Bangladeshi cleric had just come from Cotabato where they were believed to have also trained militants in bomb-making and explosives handling.

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Southeast Asia

Filipino terror network tied to YouTube, Facebook

2012-09-13

On November 6, 2011, a Filipino man uploaded a video on YouTube. In the video he wore a camouflage jacket and a mask covered his face and head. In Arabic he asked Muslims to support and contribute to the jihad in the Philippines. Identified as Commander Abu Jihad Khalil al-Rahman al-Luzon, the man called on Muslims to unite, saying there was "no way to restore the Islamic Caliphate and the glory of the religion but through jihad." It triggered a big reaction in the Philippines, triggering a wave of videos, letters and audio messages from Filipino jihadists which were promoted on al-Qaeda linked sites and jihadist websites like Shumukh al-Islam and Ansar al-Mujahideen English Forum (AMEF). Sources from 3 different countries say that Abu Jihad Khalil is 31-year old Khalil Pareja, a Christian convert to Islam who became the leader of the Rajah Solaiman Movement in 2005. RSM worked closely with the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah. Their alliance carried out at least two attacks: the Superferry bombing in 2004, one of the worst maritime terrorist attacks in history; and the Valentine's Day bombings in 2005 -- two near-simultaneous explosions in General Santos City and Davao City, followed an hour later by an explosion on a bus in Makati. A Philippine intelligence report said that Pareja not only made jihadi posts on YouTube, he was also active on Facebook -- a case study of how one man can connect jihadis and terrorists from many countries through social media.

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Southeast Asia

Philippines arrests alleged militant bomber

2011-03-16

[Straits Times] PHILIPPINE police said on Tuesday they had jugged a local Islamist bully boy with links to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Ricardo Ayeras, a founder of the Rajah Solaiman Movement, will be tried for murder over a 2003 car booming at a southern Philippine airport that claimed one life, police said. 'Ayeras is listed in the Interpol-UN Security Council Special Notice for individuals and entities associated with Al-Qaeda and the Taliban,' a police statement said. Police seized the 37-year-old at a Manila address late on Monday. No other details about his arrest were disclosed. The statement said the suspect had received training to assemble and plant bombs, and was part of a Rajah Solaiman plan to bomb several Manila targets in 2005. The mission, which was codenamed 'Big Bang' and was supposed to target foreigners, was foiled by police who raided a Rajah Solaiman safehouse and seized 600kg of explosives, it added.

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Southeast Asia

Suspected militant arrested

2009-09-02

[Straits Times] POLICE have captured a suspected Al-Qaeda-linked militant accused of high-profile kidnappings of at least four Americans and dozens of Filipinos in the southern Philippines, officials said on Tuesday. Last week's arrest of Hajer Sailani, an alleged member of the Abu Sayyaf, in a shopping mall in southern Cotabato city was the latest success of a crackdown that has netted several militants in the country's south and foiled kidnapping and terror plots, police said. Sailani has been linked to the 2000 kidnapping of American Jeffrey Schilling, a Muslim convert who travelled to an Abu Sayyaf jungle stronghold on southern Jolo Island but was held by the militants on suspicion that he was working for the CIA, police spokesman Leonardo Espina said. Schilling escaped eight months later. Did he remain Muslim after he left? Sailani also was allegedly involved in the 2001 kidnapping of three Americans and 17 Filipino tourists at the Dos Palmas resort in south-western Palawan province, which prompted Washington to deploy US troops to the southern Mindanao region to help the Philippine military rescue them, Mr Espina said. American missionary Gracia Burnham survived the yearlong jungle captivity, but husband Martin was killed in the military rescue in 2002. The third American, Guillermo Sobero, was beheaded by the militants on Basilan Island. Mr Espina said Sailani also played a role in the kidnappings of dozens of teachers, priests and students in two Basilan schools in 2000. Most of the hostages were freed or escaped, but at least two teachers were beheaded. A civilian informant on Tuesday received a US$7,000-dollar reward for the tip leading Sailani's arrest, national police chief Director General Jesus Versoza said. The national police 'will not rest until all terrorists and criminals are arrested, accounted for and neutralised,' Mr Espina said. Among those arrested recently was Dinno-Amor Rosalejos Pareja, alleged head of the Rajah Solaiman Movement that officials say was behind the 2004 Manila ferry bombing that killed 116 people in the country's worst terror attack.

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Southeast Asia

Most wanted terrorist arrested in the Philippines

2009-08-21

One of the most wanted terrorists in the country was arrested by authorities in Marawi City Friday afternoon, police said. Dinno-Amor Rosalejos Pareja, aliases Khalil Pareja, Abu Jihad and Al-Luzoni, was arrested by members of the police Intelligence Group at Sitio (sub-village) Tuca in Marawi City past 1 p.m. Friday, said Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina, Philippine National Police spokesman. Pareja, who was a ranking leader of the terror group Rajah Solaiman Movement, was arrested by virtue of an arrest warrant for rebellion issued by Judge Marissa Macaraig-Guillen in June 2006 in Makati City. No bail has been recommended for Pareja’s release, Espina said. Pareja reportedly belongs to the core group of the RSM and believed to have assumed leadership after the arrest of RSM leader Hilarion Santos in 2005. Pareja is the brother-in-law and the most trusted man of Santos, Espina said.

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Southeast Asia

Troops arrest suspected militant from group linked to Jemaah Islamiyah

2006-12-04

Troops have arrested a key member of a radical group of Christian converts to Islam, which has collaborated with the al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah terror network, officials said Saturday. Feliciano de los Reyes, a founding member of the small group called the Rajah Solaiman Movement or RSM, had been seeking refuge in Lamitan town on the southern island of Basilan when he was captured on Thursday, said Marine spokesman Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan. Caculitan said de los Reyes was arrested in a 2002 raid in northern Pangasinan province and was imprisoned for six months, then jumped bail.

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Southeast Asia

Possible Attack In Manila After Ramadan, Say Intelligence Reports

2006-10-12

Manila, 12 Oct. (AKI) - Sources within the Filipino military intelligence have raised the alarm of possible large scale terrorist attacks in Manila and other urban centres in the Philippines after the current Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which is scheduled to end in less than two weeks. Acording to the Filipino newspaper "The Star", the sources said that terrorists have already chosen their targets and that there is a real risk of an attack. As for the bombs which exploded in the southern island of Mindanao in the last two days killing eight people and injuring 36, the sources say that they were simply a "a dry-run for larger attacks next month". The intelligence sources indicated that possible targets in Mindanao include the city of Tacurong City, Kidapawan and General Santos City. In response, the authorities have said that they have stepped up security in areas close to government buildings, shopping centres, airports, ports and schools. The Philippines have often been described as the weak link in the fight against terrorism in Southeast Asia. Several terrorist groups and pro-Islamic movements are active in the country. Among the more active ones are the Abu Sayyaf and the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). The two organisations, which often work together, have recently formed an alliance with the Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM), a group made up of new converts to Islam. The RSM is considered to be the entry point into Manila for terrorists. Among the pro-Islamic groups, the largest is the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which has been fighting for the creation of an independent state for the Muslims of Mindanao for the past ten years. The MILF publically rejected terrorism several years ago but within the group, some elements are said to continue to collaborate with JI and the Abu Sayyaf.

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Southeast Asia

Security Forces Foiled Terror Attack

2006-08-28

Cotabato City, 28 August (AKI) - Security forces in the Philippines have foiled a major terror attack as three suspected members of the home grown terrorist group, Abu Sayyaf, were arrested while boarding a Super Ferry in Parang, Maguindanao (Mindanao), bound for the capital Manila. The Filipino army's Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, Army's Sixth Infantry Division spokesperson, told reporters on Monday that the three were carrying explosives and that the attack was to be carried out in Manila. "They were about to board the Superferry on Sunday when we arrested them. Our informer knew them as the bombers. Their initial plan was to board the ferry and carry out the bombings in Manila in exchange for money”, he told reporters. "Two improvised explosive devices were found on them," he added. The arrest of the three came as a report said the police fear bombings during the upcoming fifth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. A recently-released intelligence report warned that two explosive experts have arrived in Manila. The two experts allegedly belong to the Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM), a small group of Filipino converts to Islam that has been linked to a number of deadly assaults, including the bombing that gutted one Super Ferry and killed 116 people in February 2004. In the Super Ferry attack, the RSM is known to have collaborated with Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), a regional terrorist organization aiming to unite most of Southeast Asia into an Islamic caliphate. Ando said that the foiled bombing could be part of diversionary tactic as soldiers continue the "Oplan Ultimatum," military operations to hunt down Abu Sayyaf leaders, particularly Khadaffy Janjalani, as well as Indonesians said to be members Jemaah Islamiyah, a terrorist network responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings which killed over 200 people. Active in Mindanao, the Abu Sayyaf and JI are on the European Union and US lists of terrorist groups.

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