PHILIPPINES: REWARD OF FIVE MILLION PESOS OFFERED FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO RECAPTURE OF TOP ISLAMIC MILITANT AFTER JAILBREAK

Record ID: 208421

  • Title: PHILIPPINES: REWARD OF FIVE MILLION PESOS OFFERED FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO RECAPTURE OF TOP ISLAMIC MILITANT AFTER JAILBREAK
  • Date: 16th July 2003
  • Summary: (U1)MANILA, PHILIPPINES (JULY 15, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. SLV FACADE OF POLICE INTELLIGENCE JAIL (CAMP KRAME) WHERE AL-GHOZI WAS JAILED AND FROM WHERE HE ESCAPED (3 SHOTS) 0.16 2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) POLICE INTELLIGENCE CHIEF SUPERINTENDANT EDUARDO MATILLANO SAYING "According to (Interior Minister) Secretary Jose Lina when I talked to him he will recommend a reward for the capture of these three terrorists." 0.24 3. SLV NATIONAL POLICE HEADQUARTERS (2 SHOTS) 0.34 (U1)MANILA, PHILIPPINES (JULY 2, 2003) (REUTERS) 4. SLV/MV /SCU FATHUR ROHMAN AL GHOZI AT DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (4 SHOTS) 0.54 (U1)MANILA, PHILIPPINES (JULY 15, 2003) (REUTERS) 5. SLV AUSTRALIAN MINISTER JOHN HOWARD SPEAKING AT ASIA SOCIETY 1.00 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) HOWARD SAYING "There is still a great deal we do not know. The JI (Jemaah Islamiah) and the other groups are still likely to have the capacity to mount further terrorist attacks. The JI leaders such as Hambali and these bomb makers such as Dr. Zahari are still at large. And obviously the escape of the three terrorist in Manila is serious setback and it underlines for all of us the need to be vigilant and to strengthen our institutional capability to deal with terrorism." 1.35 7. SLV DINERS; MV HOWARD AT OPENING OF NEW AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY OFFICE (4 SHOTS) 2.11 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 31st July 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
  • Country: Philippines
  • Reuters ID: LVA61KMNY8TFD7QDT0NFE4UEZHTC
  • Story Text: The Philippines has offered a reward of five million
    pesos ($93,284 U.S. dollars) for information leading to the
    recapture of the region's top Islamic militant after his
    jailbreak.

    Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi, an Indonesian who is a
    self-confessed member of Jemaah Islamiah, escaped from a
    high-security prison in Manila early on Monday (July 14, 2003),
    apparently with the connivance of his guards.

    He escaped with two Filipino prisoners who are believed to
    be members of a radical Islamic group, the Abu Sayyaf. Both
    groups have been linked to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network.

    "We are offering five million pesos for Al-Ghozi," police
    criminal investigation chief superintendent Eduardo Matillano
    told Reuters on Tuesday (July 15).

    He added that rewards of two million pesos would be
    offered for the information leading to the recapture of Abu
    Sayyaf bomb expert Abul Mukhim Edris and one million peso for
    the other rebel fugitive Meram Abante also known as Omar Opik
    Lasal.

    Ports and airports have been put on alert to prevent the
    three from fleeing the Philippines. A nationwide manhunt has
    been launched and photographs of the three fugitives
    distributed to all police intelligence offices across the
    country.

    The slim, bearded al-Ghozi, who has said he was on a
    mission to wage holy war in Southeast Asia, was serving a jail
    term of up to 12 years for illegal possession of explosives
    and falsifying travel papers.

    His escape occurred a week after he was also charged with
    murder for the deaths of 12 people in the bombing of a Manila
    commuter train in December 2000 -- one of a series of near
    simultaneous explosions in the capital on that day.

    President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, angered and embarrassed
    by the escape, immediately sacked the three guards assigned to
    watch al-Ghozi's cell after police officials said there were
    no signs of a forced break-out, suggesting connivance.

    Investigators said they were looking into the possible
    switching of keys for the padlocks used in the two adjacent
    cells where al-Ghozi and two others were detained.

    Two senior police officers were dismissed from their posts
    in connection with the escape.

    Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister John Howard warned on
    Tuesday the threats of new terror attacks from Southeast Asian
    radical group Jemaah Islamiah (JI) and other extremists
    remained "extremely high" and they could carry out further
    violence.

    Howard, speaking before the Asia Society organisation,
    also said the escape was a serious setback to anti-terror
    campaign.

    Concluding a three-day Philippine visit, Howard said the
    bombing carnage in Bali in October; the blast at Davao airport
    in southern Philippines early this year; and smaller attacks
    elsewhere in the Philippines and Indonesia "show that the
    threat from JI and other terrorist groups remain extremely
    high."
    "The JI and other groups are still likely to have the
    capacity to mount further terrorist attacks," he said.

    Howard also attended the reopening of the Australian
    embassy in Manila amid tightened security after shutting its
    doors for over a month last year on perceived terror threats.

    Australia has been sensitive to terror threats in the wake
    of bombings on the Indonesian island of Bali on October 12
    2002 which killed more then 180, including 88 Australians.


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