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U.S. Assisting Philippines in Islamist Manhunt

Philippines security officials this week said that U.S. troops were assisting the Army in an ongoing, massive manhunt against suspected members of the extremist Jemaah Islamiyah in southern Philippines. The group, which has ties to the al-Qaeda terrorist group, is believed responsible for a series of bomb attacks in the region. Colonel Juancho Saban, of the armed forces of the Philippines, said American soldiers attached to Filipino Marine unit were not involved in actual combat against Islamists, but only there to provide valuable intelligence.

It is believed that bomb experts in Jemaah Islamiyah, Umar Patek and Dulmatin, were being hidden by members of the local terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, which is itself responsible for kidnapping foreign nationals and bomb attacks. It is wanted both by the U.S. and the Philippine governments for a series of bombings and kidnappings, including the deaths of two Americans in 2001. Washington has offered a $10 million breward for Dulmatin, while Patek has a $1 million reward for his capture.

Colonel Saban said, "We have ongoing operations, and we are on the trail of the Abu Sayyaf group. U.S. troops are involved in providing intelligence, but I stress are not involved in actual operations. If it weren`t for them, we wouldn`t know where to look." Government troops apparently overran an Abu Sayyaf camp in Jolo this week, and recovered bomb manufacturing materials which were believed to have belonged to Dulmatin.