| KL BANK IS MILF
FUNDS DEPOSITORY A BIG Malaysian bank is
serving as the main depository of some $3 million in cash purportedly donated by suspected
Saudi terrorist leader Osama bin Laden to finance the secessionist war being waged by the
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) against the Estrada administration. Military
intelligence officials declined to name the bank but insisted that it is the one where
alleged MILF deputy vice chairman for military affairs Salih Balamul was scheduled to
withdraw the money.
The Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (ISAFP) said its agents obtained the account number of the Bin Laden deposits.
ISAFP learned that the money was made to appear to be
intended for buying food and medicine for Muslims, including those who were adversely
affected by the protracted war between the government and the MILF.
The military intelligence arm, however, said Bin
Laden’s money is being used by the Muslim rebels to procure more arms and ammunition
in a bid to strengthen forces now scattered in small satellite camps in central Mindanao.
MILF weakened
The military officials said the MILF has been
considerably weakened by government’s ongoing military campaign.
In fact, an ISAFP report said that there are only
about 100 MILF guerrillas now guarding these small MILF camps in Mindanao.
These MILF fighters are low in ammunition, the
military added.
Most of the MILF fighters, from 9,000 to 10,000, are
reportedly cowering inside Camp Abubakar, the MILF stronghold. There were only about 6,000
to 7,000 rebels inside Camp Abubakar prior to the military campaign, the military said.
The increase in the number of rebels in Camp
Abubakar, it noted, is a result of successful military operations to first crush the
forces manning the satellite camps.
Aside from ammunition, the rebels also lack firearms.
The MILF has reportedly only 7,000 guerrillas still with arms, ISAFP said.
“Yung iba
(weapons) wala (in encounters), yung iba nasira, yung iba na-capture ng military,”
the military report said.
-- Manny
B. Marinay
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