Mike Cohen - At Large

Police on manhunt for JI-ASG "strike team" in Manila

"strike team" in Metro Manila - Protests groups targets?

Chaos goal.

Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday are searching for and checking on the reports that a joint JI-ASG strike team is in Manila to carry out attacks during the May1 "Labor Day" public events that is often a mix of celebration and always large crowded protests.

The Chief of the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, or, CIDG, Asher Dolina, in Metro Manila, says his men will continue to monitor the apartment they raided. The CIDG, is looking for members of the ASG team in manila believed to number between 4 to 6 men who are at large.

"They will continue to check on reports of alleged Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) activities in the capitol "

This comes after a raiding team led by Lt. Col. Nelson Yabut,, raided a home n Marikina City, at 21 Champagne St. residence village, where they recovered explosives and firearms inside several rooms. Six Anti-Personnel grenades and a small IED were found, it is also believed the group may have "other safehouses" in the area. Police believe the strike team had intended to use the weapons on crowds taking part in protests and other May Day activities.

This comes on the heels of other tense reports ;

Rumors have circulated that left-wing groups, disgruntled troops and opposition leaders plan to move to oust President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday, when the country marks Labor Day. The military has said an alleged coup attempt in late February could be revived next week.

Tension is rising;

But, some feel the reports and attempts come on renewed concerns by most people who are more concerned about domestic issues more directly affecting their lives than Political infighting.
The current prime concern in most surveys is "rising fuel prices" as well as "Employment and Income", However the Philippine street political scene is always fluid.
However, new survey numbers, made by the Social Weather Stations, a more conservative and far more complex survey research group, there's a lot of them here.
A lot of those figures were released full page ads indicating that a majority of people want to move on with their lives and are interpreted by analysts to mean they are less willing to take part in "protests and people power" events.
There is a large sector of "undecided".
What cannot be surveyed however is if Violence is factored into protests and large number of people are hurt of worse - this could mean two things; that people will be even more less likely to follow the opposition or it may shift public opinion versus the administration.
Either way; the Terror group at large couldn't care less, if their past actions are to be looked at - they only want to create chaos.


philippines news-and-politics

http://counterterrorismblog.org/mt/pings.cgi/2664

Zackary Abuza; has a summary of recent Mindanao activity that is full of information - the entire site actually is very good with expert information on intentional topics and scope of the problem from a global perspective.
just FYI-
Mike
philippines news-and-politics