Mumbai-type attacks unlikely in RP, says prof
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 12/10/2008 1:33 PM
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Terrorist attacks similar to those perpetrated in Mumbai, India are unlikely to happen in the Philippines particularly in Metro Manila, the executive director of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research said Wednesday.
Prof. Rommel C. Banlaoi said the November 27 attacks in Mumbai have raised fears that a copycat assault might occur in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. He said that the Philippines is listed as a possible target of a future terrorist attack because of the continuing presence of Jemaah Islamiya (JI) operatives who, based on intelligence reports, are being coddled by the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group and rogue personalities of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
He added, however, that a Mumbai-type attack is unlikely to happen in the Philippines "because the JI, the ASG and the rogue factions of the MILF have not yet trained a team of well-experienced paramilitary-intelligence commando fighters capable of mounting a carefully planned and highly coordinated operation."
"Organizing an urban commando of Muslim fighters needs huge funding. It requires rigid training in special urban warfare. Members of this group must be highly motivated, have strong self-discipline and willing to fight till death," he said.
Banlaoi said the Mumbai terror attack was a commando-type operation that relied heavily on detailed surveillance of the target.
"These commandos, rigorously trained in urban warfare, are also called Fidayeens who are armed with sophisticated weapons and a sizeable amount of ammunition willing to fight till death," he said.
Banlaoi said the ASG has failed to actually form a commando-type group of mujahedeen but instead formed a bunch of jungle fighters "whose skills in warfare is even far below the standard of the Philippine Marines, the Scout Rangers and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT)."
He said the death of ASG founder Abdurajak Janjalani in 1998 and other key ASG leaders also led to a deterioration of the terror group's fighting skills.
He said ASG leader Khadaffy Janjalani also dreamed of of creating an “urban squad” in 2004 to pursue urban terrorism but only managed to form teams of urban bombers with expertise in using Explosive Improvised Devises (EIDs). He said the bombers received training from JI operatives and were responsible for a series of bombings in Manila in 2004 and 2005.
Banlaoi said that though a Mumbai-type terrorist attack is still unlikely to occur in the Philippines "there is no reason to be complacent."
"The challenge to the Philippine government is to prevent a commando of urban mujahedeen to emerge in the country," he said.
