Norberto Gonzales, the president’s security adviser, said they had received an intelligence report that Abu Sayyaf was trying to raise funds abroad using the internet site YouTube and the blast could be used as part of this campaign.

“What is more ominous here is they may be planning a bigger attack,” Gonzales said on a radio programme on Saturday.

“They will first show a sample. That means that while the bomb yesterday already was powerful, it is still just a sample.”

However, speaking on local radio on Saturday, Abu Sayyaf denied that they were involved in the explosion.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, another Muslim separatist group, also said they were unaware of the blast.

Problem is, the bomb was a pretty sophisticated one, and the group that has claimed responsibility doesn’t seem capable of pulling this off:

Meanwhile, the Anti-Terrorism Task Force (ATTF) doubted that the Rajah Solaiman Group could fulfill its threat to pull off another bombing in Metro Manila. The group earlier claimed responsibility for the Glorietta blast.

ATTF head Ricardo Blancaflor said they cannot accept at face value the claim of one Sheik Omar claiming responsibility for the incident that killed 10 people, and hurt at least 113 others.

Still, Blancaflor said they are now verifying and double-checking their data to see if the group indeed has the capability to conduct attacks.

They’re a charming bunch. Notice how they’re a bit more specific than is usual about the religion they’re targeting:

Also in a text message to ABS-CBN News, the person who said he was RSM spokesman Ruben Omar Lavilla, alias Sheik Omar, demanded the release of founder Hilarion del Rosario Santos, alias Ahmed Islam Santos, within 24 hours or the group will launch a similar attack targeting public places and vital installations.

“Jihad (holy war) against the Christians will continue if the military will not stop the killings of Muslims in Mindanao and Ahmed Santos should be released within 24 hours, otherwise, (Christians will) suffer again the consequences,” the caller said.

Del Rosario, captured in October 2006 at a hideout in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, was the head of the RSM, a group of Christians who converted to Islam and suspected to have links with the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah.

The RSM is an organization of Filipinos who have converted to Islam, was suspected of carrying out the Rizal Day bombing in 2000 and the February 2004 bombing of a Super Ferry ship that killed 116 people on Manila Bay. The group was also implicated in plots to attack the US Embassy in the Philippines.

More on the official skepticism here. Whether or not RSM could handle it, Jemaah Islamiyah could handle it quite well. They were behind the Bali Bombing–and they even (allegedly) had a little helper in Silicon Valley.

MORE: Interested in learning more about jihad in the Philippines? Bryan at Hot Air recommends you set your TiVo today for a worthwhile History Channel documentary narrated by Mark “Black Hawk Down” Bowden.

Tapes of the alleged conversations between Arroyo and an election official are available here. The U.S. has offered to look into the authenticity of the tapes, but according to the Philippines Daily Inquirer, the U.S. Charge d’Affaires says “the Philippine government has yet to make any request for U.S. assistance on the matter.”

The Inquirer also reports that Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez “has been threatening to slap charges on media organizations found to have caused the spread, the playing and the printing of the contents” of the tapes. Shades of Adscam.

Elsewhere, William Pesek Jr. of Bloomberg News writes that “investors have reason to worry anew about the outlook for the Philippines.”

Hat tip: Reader John M.

***
Previous Filipinoblogging:

Terrorist scuba attacks?
Abu Sayyaf leader: dead or alive?
Is the Philippines sabotaging the War on Terror again?
Thank the Philippines
Obnoxious quote of the day
The $6 million cutthroat payoff
Hate mail: The Philippines edition
The mollycoddling milsops of Manila
How do you say “weasel” in Tagalog?
The Philippines goes wobbly

When I pointed out that I didn’t think Bush was doing nearly enough to scrutinize young, single, male Filipino Muslims entering the U.S. through the front door, the smarty-pants students would slink back their seats. Oh, well. Unable to play the hypocrisy card, they could always take comfort in attacking me as a “race traitor.”

Was reminded of those exchanges when I saw this story today about the Philippines becoming the “new Afghanistan:”

The United States has expressed concern about militant training activity on Mindanao in the southern Philippines, warning the rebellion-torn southern region could become the “next Afghanistan.”

Joseph Mussomeli, the number-two official of the US embassy in Manila, urged its Southeast Asian ally to do more to stem the flow of Islamic militant recruits into Mindanao, which he alleged was becoming “the new ‘Mecca’ for terrorism.”
These groups train in bomb-making in Mindanao and have actually conducted bombing campaigns in the country, he added.

“Personally, I’m worried that we’re not worried enough. I think the real danger here, and the danger that has been here since the mid-90s, is that we’re not focused enough on the threat here,” Charge d’affaires Mussomeli said in an interview with Australia’s SBS television.

Once trained, many of these militants will no doubt attempt to enter the U.S. the same way the 9/11 hijackers did–on short-term business, visitor, or student visas. Joel Mowbray reported on the deadly failures of State Department consular officials to enforce existing visa rules that guard against potential visa overstayers–and that essentially profile temporary travelers most likely to be terrorists. If the regulations–known as 214(b)– had been properly followed, not a single one of the 9/11 hijackers would have been allowed into the U.S.

More than ever, those rules need to be enforced strictly–and especially so in “friendly” countries such as Saudi Arabia and the Philippines, lest diplomacy be the death of us again.

***
Related:

Terrorist scuba attacks?
Abu Sayyaf leader: dead or alive?
Filipino police uncover 1995 leads to Sept. 11 plot

Update: A full transcript of Mussomeli’s interview is here. (Hat tip: reader Joe)

MANILA, Philippines — Two of the most dangerous al-Qaida-linked groups in Southeast Asia are working together to train terrorists in scuba diving for seaborne attacks, according to a recently captured guerrilla.

The ominous development is outlined in a Philippine military report obtained Thursday that also notes increasing collaboration among the Muslim militants in other areas, including financing and explosives, as extremists plot new ways to strike.

In the last year, the Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiyah has given Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines at least $18,500 for explosives training alone, the report said.

The report comes a month after the U.S. Coast Guard announced it is seeking to better protect the nation’s ports from terrorist attacks by scuba divers by developing a sonar system that can distinguish human swimmers from dolphins.

Concerns about terrorist strikes by scuba divers were raised three years ago after the FBI announced it was investigating whether al-Qaida operatives took scuba training to help blow up ships at anchor, power plants, bridges, depots or other waterfront targets.

***
Related:

- Photos of the Filipino terror suspects who revealed the scuba plot here.

- The Dutch have been investigating a possible al Qaeda recruitment cell connected with a dive shop outside Amsterdam.

- DHS issued a warning bulletin in August 2003 on possible underwater attacks. (Hat tip: EagleSpeak.) From Newsmax:

The “Swimmer Attack Indicators and Protective Measures” bulletin was issued on August 22, 2003. The bulletin advised “the maritime industry and owners and operators of maritime facilities of a number of incidents of suspicious activity and possible surveillance of maritime facilities around the U.S. over the past few months.”

The bulletin, issued to ship owners, port managers and maritime police organizations, reads like a chapter out of Ian Fleming’s “Thunderball” where a terrorist group uses sophisticated underwater technology to attack the United States.

“Although there is no evidence of international terrorist groups planning to utilize scuba divers to carry out attacks within the United States, there is a body of information showing the desire to obtain such capability,” states the bulletin.

“During the past two years there have been numerous incidents that have occurred involving suspicious individuals possibly conducting surveillance of port facilities, cruise ship docks, naval bases, dams, bridges and power facilities in the United States. Also, there has been law enforcement reporting of suspicious individuals having queried marine shops and schools concerning equipment and training.”

According to the agency, “there is no specific information indicating that a swimmer attack of any kind is currently being planned in the United States, such targeting would be consistent with Al-Qaeda’s stated objective to disrupt and undermine vital economic interests in this country and to cause mass casualties and panic.”

Once more, the Arroyo government is claimed to be negotiating the release of hostaged Filipino accountant Roberto Tarongoy by his captors, with a counter offer of $6 million, or $4 million short of the earlier $10 million demanded by the Iraqi rebels, a reliable source from the Department of Foreign Affairs told the Tribune yesterday.

It was not known whether President Arroyo will again be tapping Libya for the ransom money, although the source pointed out it is likely for her to seek the help of Saudi Arabia in raising the funds, as Mrs. Arroyo was reported to have done the Saudi government a “big favor” by ordering the release from immigration detention of suspected al-Qaeda financier, Mohammed al-Sughayir…

…“How we are moving now is just like what I was doing with Angelo de la Cruz. We are making contacts already,” a transcript of Seguis’ interview obtained also yesterday disclosed.

In the case of De la Cruz, a truck driver, $6 million was reportedly paid for his release, with Libya putting out $5 million, while the Philippine government put out $1 million, taken from the Land Bank of the Philippines.

Malaysia was said to have facilitated the payment to the Iraqi abductors, the Khaled bin al-Waleed Iraqi Islamic Army.

Weasels all.

I am sorely tempted to swear in Tagalog, but my mom and dad read my blog.

***
Related: More on the Sgrena case from David Frum.

Sketchy reports reaching the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) General Headquarters in Quezon City said that Janjalani, who carried a US$5 million reward from the United States government and another R5 million from the Philippine government, was among the suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits who were killed during an air attack on their hideout in a remote barangay in Datu Piang…

(Background on al Qaeda/Abu Sayyaf linkage here.)

Janjalani’s body hasn’t been recovered.

The US Treasury Department froze Janjalani’s assets last week.

Hmmm. Too early to celebrate yet.

The former comptroller of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has been suspended for six months without pay for alleged unexplained income and for failing to fully declare his net worth.

Major General Carlos Garcia was suspended upon orders from the Ombudsman, which is investigating him for dishonesty, gross misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, Major General Edilberto Adan, Armed Forces spokesman said at a press briefing Monday in military general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo.

The suspension took effect Sept. 28.

“The charges alleged that General Garcia failed to declare several assets in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) and that his increase in net worth is disproportionate to his legitimate income” he said.

Garcia was reassigned from comptroller to chief of the Armed Forces plans and programs office last February following a report that his son was held at a US airport for failing to declare 100,000 dollars he was carrying with him.

An investigation found insufficient evidence to charge Garcia but an ombudsman probe then found cause to suspend the general, who now has 10 days to answer the charges.

The ombudsman would then determine if there is probable cause to charge him in a special anti-graft court.

Armed forces spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Lucero told Agence France-Presse that Garcia’s suspension was the first for a general “in contemporary times.”

The twist, according to a source in the Philippines, is that the suspended general isn’t merely suspected of skimming money from his own people’s taxes. He is reportedly suspected of abusing funds from a U.S. anti-terrorism aid package–that is, American taxpayer funding–which was aimed at bolstering the Philippine military’s efforts to combat the Islamist insurgency. According to my source, General Garcia and his apparently Imelda Marcos-like wife may have spent the money on real estate in New York (including a unit at Trump Park Avenue Condo in NYC) and Westerville, Ohio. Will keep an eye on the story.

If they keep this up, the Philippines (a.k.a. The Islamic Protectorate of the Philippines) will soon overtake France as King of the Axis of Weasels.

Background on Filipino foul behavior here, here, here, here, here.

Iraqi insurgents issued brash new challenges to the country’s interim government, capturing an Egyptian diplomat as he walked out of a mosque and making new demands for the release of seven hostages that will almost certainly go unmet.

Militants kidnapped Mohammed Mamdouh Helmi Qutb outside a mosque and demanded his country abandon any plans to send security experts to support Iraq’s new government, according to a video broadcast on the Al-Jazeera television station. He was believed to be the first foreign diplomat kidnapped in Iraq…

The abduction threatened to undermine efforts of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Thursday to persuade Arab and Muslim countries to provide troops to protect the U.N. mission here.

Update: Meanwhile, according to the Philippines Daily Tribune,

The United States is “seriously considering” imposing a travel ban by Americans to the Philippines,because of reported threat of attack on Americans and US interests in the country, local newspaper the Daily Tribune quoted diplomatic sources as saying on Sunday.

The Daily Tribune said that “highly placed diplomatic sources” told its reporters on Saturday that the possible ban is based on “credible intelligence reports of a serious attack being planned against its (US) citizens residing in the Philippines and on American establishments in the country.”

We must rejoice at the good news, but our happiness must be tempered by the awareness that we live in dangerous times and that we must work to create a more peaceful world.

Go ahead, Gloria. Keep working to pay off the Islamofascists. No doubt there’s a Nobel (Ap)Peace(ment) Prize for you already in the works.

A ransom of $6 million was offered and paid out to the Iraqi rebels holding Filipino truck driver Angelo de la Cruz hostage, to ensure his release before President Arroyo’s scheduled State of the Nation Address on July 26, a high level Philippine intelligence officer told the Tribune yesterday.This offer was alleged to have been approved by the President herself, who then tapped Malaysian emissaries for the job, the intelligence officer, who asked for anonymity, said.

Of the $6-million payoff, $5 million was shouldered by Malaysia and $1 million by the Landbank of the Philippines, the officer added.

An Asian diplomat, also on condition on anonymity, held the view that this was a very “dangerous” move made by the Philippine government since Mrs. Arroyo has, by negotiating with terrorists on a financial recompense level, opened up the possibility of more kidnap groups in Iraq as well as in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Middle East seeing the overseas Filipino worker as “easy prey” for them.

De la Cruz’s whereabouts are unknown, with no words about his condition emanatin from the Arab TV al-Jazeera, although it is believed that he remains under the custody of the Iraqi rebels.

The intelligence officer, however, pointed out that the Filipino captive’s early release is already “a done deal,” with Philippine officials in Iraq reportedly readying themselves for De la Cruz’s “rescue” or “recovery” in time for the Sona.

“They (Iraqis) are waiting for instructions from the Philippine rescue team,” the source said.

It was also pointed out by the intelligence source that the Iraqi kidnappers came up with the condition that, despite the ransom payment, the Philippine government will still have to withdraw its contingent earlier than the deadline given, for the rebels not to be seen internationally as having been “bought off” by Manila.

It was still unclear what the quid pro quo for Malaysia would be, for acting as intermediaries in the hostage crisis, but the same source said it is likely that the Malaysian-Libyan palm oil plantation project would be sped up.

Malaysia has also asked the Philippine government for an increased air flight frequency to Kuala Lumpur.

It was Malaysia that came to Mrs. Arroyo’s defense while international leaders openly criticized her move for a pullout of Filipino troops from Iraq…

Read the rest. Don’t know how reliable the Daily Tribune is, but the ransom rumors have been buzzing for a week.

Meanwhile, the New People’s Army (Filipino commie thug group) is taking its cue from its Islamofascist friends. From the Manila Times today:

Taking advantage of the government’s changed stance against terrorism, the New People’s Army said it would not release the soldiers it captured until the government suspends all military and police operations in the Bicol region.

The NPA had captured 1st Lt. Rolando Fedelino and Private First-Class Ronel Nemeno in February, when the rebels ambushed an Army patrol in Tinambac, Camarines Sur…

I’ll leave the wiser, more sober analysis on all this to Wretchard and Dean, et al. Right now I’m just going to go cry myself to sleep.

Update: Kevin at Wizbang says, “President Arroyo, if the story is true, has just become a major state sponsor of terrorism. From Coalition partner, to Axis of Weasels, and finally to Axis of Evil in less than a month…”

Update II: Arroyo and the Malaysian government have no comment on the ransom payment. Speaks for itself, I think.

Update III: Indispensable and sage, Wretchard at Belmont Club weighs in on the Six Million Dollar Man. So does the Philippine Daily Tribune, with a surprisingly sharp and on-target rebuke of President Arroyo and her simpering media supporters.

Update IV: John Hawkins on Fiesty Filipinos Who Are Frazzled By Frivolous Funster Jay Leno. Say that 10 times.

A new world record has been set in the 100 meter dash. It was set by Filipino troops fleeing Iraq.

Yup. The latest news is that the remaining members of the Philippine police and military contingent in Iraq are to withdraw on Monday, according to Foreign Secretary Delia Albert. De la Cruz has been seen on video without the orange jumpsuit, promising that he’ll be home soon. And Australia’s foreign minister, Alexander Downer, published a strong rebuke of the flaccid Filipinos in the Wall Street Journal – a must-read.

I continue to get a flood of e-mail in response to my Mollycodding Milksops of Manila column. It’s mostly positive (and that includes mail from Filipinos around the world). The remaining hate e-mail falls into two categories: 1) from sputtering “B-b-b-b-b-but it’s more complicated than you think” capitulationists and 2) from the “how dare you betray your race” bash-bots. This one made me giggle:

From: aznrocketman@hotmail.com
To: malkin@comcast.net
Sent: Sunday, July 18, 2004 1:19 AM
Subject: Townhall Comment: Take a look at your face

Dear Ms. Malkin,

I, like thousands of others, am a proud Asian American. I am proud of being my ancestors, their customs, and am proud to still be practicing the ancient religion (Buddhism).

What I am not proud of, are Asian Americans who act white, who dont care or embrace where they come from.

Ms. Malkin, i just recently read your article of you putting down the phillipines. What do you think you are??? How can you put down your own heritage and ancestry, in newspapers, that circulate to thousands, if not millions of readers in this country??? Yes, if you really feel that way, it is okay, i understand the point you are making. But putting down your own ancestry in front of millions of non-Asian readers, thats just a shame.

Us Asians need to UNITE, and yet, we still have white washed people like you, who recognize yourself as American, before Asian…

Getting to my point, TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR FACE MS. MALKIN. You are Asian whether you like it or not. You have great power in the media, and you should use it to help unite Asian Americans, rather than put down your own heritage and ignore the fact that you are an ASIAN American.

Next thing you know they’ll be criticizing me for marrying outside of my race. Oh, wait. The Aztlan crowd already has that covered.

Add the flag of the Philippines to the International Hall of Appeasers. Sign this pitiful nation up for a lifetime membership to the Axis of Weasels. And remind me never again to brag about the proud fighting spirit of my ancestors.

See also Philippine Commentary, Wizbang!, The Moderate Voice, The Intergalactic Capitalist, The World Wide Rant , and Galen’s Log, all of whom disapprove of Philippine officials’ decision.

Update: Introducing the “Islamic Protectorate State Of The Philippines:” One Fine Jay has redesigned the flag of the Philippines accordingly.

Update II: Robert Tagorda contemplates the diplomatic and national security implications of the Philippines’ pullout.

Update III: Marc Landers, CPO, USN, Ret., at USS Neverdock shares his thoughts on the Filipino people.

[W]hat Manila has done is to reward the terrorists and guaranteed more kidnappings of its citizens. Even if the Filipinos restart their deployment, its lack of consistency has signalled the Islamofascists that they can influence Manila’s policy, a lesson that certainly will not be lost on the native Islamofascist Abu Sayyaf insurgency in the [Philippines]. Just as with the Spaniards, the Filipinos have given terrorists a public victory and made the struggle against these lunatics harder on the rest of us.

He is absolutely right. I’m ashamed for the Philippines, which has vacillated in the War on Terror, negotiated with the Islamofascists, and endangered us all.

UPDATE: Belmont Club, Philippine Commentary, and Cranial Cavity all have more on weak-kneed Filipinos giving in to terrorism.