Sayyaf targeting churches — DOJ official

Abu Sayyaf terrorists plan to bomb Catholic churches in Metro Manila and other strategic points nationwide during Holy Week in retaliation for Tuesday’s killing of Abu Sayyaf leaders during a police assault on a high-security jail, a government prosecutor warned yesterday.

Quoting information from a "knowledgeable" source, State Prosecutor Peter Medalle said Abu Sayyaf "sleepers" have been ordered to wreak havoc in Metro Manila to avenge the death of Abu Sayyaf commanders Alhamser Manatad Limbong, alias Kosovo, and Ghalib Andang, alias Commander Robot.

"My source is privy to the planning of the Abu Sayyaf," he told reporters yesterday.

"The Bicutan (jailbreak) incident just hastened the bombings. They have sleepers in Metro Manila (including) Abu Solaiman, or Jainal Sali, who has this deep-seated hatred for the military because when he was still a kid, he saw the military kill his friend. He was not bluffing when he said that he will bring the war to Metro Manila."

Medalle said his informant told him to advise commuters against sitting near the backs or fronts of buses, the MRT, LRT or other means of land transportation.

"He (the source) is very knowledgeable. He has contacts with the Abu Sayyaf. He knows the mindset of these people. I don’t know exactly where his sympathies are.

"It only happens that he was my friend. He gave me information on a personal basis. I am not trying to create panic among the people, but I just want the people not to be caught off-guard."

Two weeks before the Camp Bagong Diwa incident, Medalle said he had warned guards at the Metro Manila Rehabilitation Center that Abu Sayyaf detainees were planning to bolt the high-security jail.

However, his warnings were not taken seriously, he said.