| Jolo-bound arms
seized from ship Tonnes of bomb-making substance
also uncovered
MANILA -- Hundreds of rounds of
ammunition have been seized aboard a ship bound for Jolo where Abu Sayyaf rebels are
holding hostages, while 1,000 tonnes of a bomb-making substance carried by trucks have
also been uncovered.
Military intelligence agents on
Tuesday confiscated aboard the M/V Kristel Jane, 203 rounds of M-16 ammunition and 178
rounds and a magazine clip for M-14s while the ship was docked at a Zamboanga City wharf
for inspection.
The Abu Sayyaf, rolling in
ransom money, has been aggressively buying new ammunition and weapons, as well as
recruiting poor local youths into its fold.
The rebel group, believed to
comprise no more than 400 fighters before the hostage drama began, is estimated now at
4,500.
Officials also revealed
yesterday that police agents had intercepted 1,000 tonnes of potassium nitrate, a
substance used for making bombs and other explosives, aboard six trucks at the Manila
South Harbour.
But four other 6-m trucks
carrying an additional 1,000 tonnes of the substance on Aug 11 managed to get away and are
now the subject of pursuit operations, said a police source.
The truck drivers and their
helpers said the potassium nitrate would be used in making fireworks and other
pyrotechnics in time for the Christmas and New Year revelry but police remained
unconvinced.
""There are tonnes
and tonnes of potassium nitrate that are more than enough to blow up several buildings,''
said a police officer. --Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network
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