MANILA, Philippines —The Philippine military was verifying reports that a suspected terrorist has joined forces with a new group that split from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Armed Forces spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Burgos said Friday.
But Burgos also acknowledged that Abdul Basit Usman “is a serious threat.”
MILF spokesman Von Al Haq said Thursday his group has received information that Usman has been seen in Mindanao with the forces of Ameril Umbra Kato, the breakaway guerrilla who vowed to carry on the battle for a separate Muslim homeland.
Burgos said the military was verifying the report. “We will countercheck and verify the information If true or not,” he said.
Usman is on United States’ list of most-wanted terrorists and has a $1-million dollar reward for his killing or capture.
“He is a high value target bomber. He is a serious threat,” Burgos said.
Usman, notorious for his bomb-making skills, was trained by the main Moro rebel group but was expelled in the mid-2000 after an investigation showed he carried out unauthorized bomb attacks and had links with Jemaah Islamiyah militants, Al Haq said Thursday.
Burgos expressed confidence that the MILF would be able to resolve its conflicts with Kato, who broke away from the MILF and formed the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
“We are very hopeful that the MILF leadership can address internal problems with Umbra Kato,” he said. With The Associated Press