VZCZCXRO0420
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #1885 1220856
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 020856Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0798
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 0686
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0073
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//OSD/ISA/AP//
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 001885 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MTS AND S/CT 
USPACOM FOR FPA HUSO 
SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP FOR ALLEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2016 
TAGS: PTER PREL MOPS KPAL BX ID MY RP
SUBJECT: ARREST OF ASG OPERATIVE AL-SHARIE AMIRUDDIN A 
SIGNIFICANT CATCH 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Scott Bellard 
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary.  The recent arrest of Al-Sharie Amiruddin y 
Mohammad Nur, aka Abu Omar, is a significant catch for the 
Armed Forces of the Philippines.  Although a mid-level 
operative, Amiruddin was an early Abu Sayyaf Group adherent, 
and involved in intelligence and recruiting activities in 
Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia.  He has admitted to 
involvement in the Das Palmas and Sipadan kidnappings and to 
plotting new attacks against the popular beach resorts of 
Boracay and Dakak.  Embassy working groups will examine the 
possibility of a recommendation for payment under the US 
Rewards for Justice program.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (C) Elements of Military Intelligence Group 9 (MIG 9) 
arrested Al-Sharie Amiruddin y Mohammad Nur, aka Abu Omar, an 
Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) planner wanted for his role in the 
Sipadan kidnappings, on April 24 in Zamboanga City.  During 
his initial interrogation, Amiruddin stated he had undergone 
24 months of intensive training from June 1991 to 1993 with 
his cousin, ASG leader Khadaffy Janjalani, in Marawi City. 
The first 18 months focused largely on Islamic theory, while 
the last six were devoted to military subjects, such as basic 
explosives, tactics, guerrilla warfare, the use of the AK-47, 
M14, and M16 rifles and the .45 caliber pistol, and 
self-defense training in taekwando and karate.  The military 
training took place at Camp Busrah in Kalinugas, Lanao del 
Sur. 
 
¶3.  (C) Amiruddin claimed to his interrogators that four 
foreign nationals were present during the training, which 
winnowed an initial class of 300 students down to 67.  These 
were Jamal Khalifa, a Saudi national, who served as the 
finance officer, and three Palestinians -- Abu Rasheed, Abu 
Mousad, and Abu Ibbada. 
 
¶4.  (C) Following his training, Amiruddin joined the ASG as 
an intelligence officer, with responsibilities for 
surveillance and recruiting activity.  He visited Malaysia, 
Indonesia, and Brunei repeatedly in this capacity, working in 
concert with a branch of the Tabligh organization located in 
Marawi City. 
 
¶5.  (C) Amiruddin admitted he was one of the planners for the 
Dos Palmas and Sipadan kidnappings, and said he had 
personally conducted reconnaissance of each site before the 
ASG raids.  Amiruddin confessed he had been involved in 
planning kidnapping operations targeting the popular beach 
resorts of Boracay and Dakak at the time of his arrest. 
Boracay, one of the Philippines' major tourist sites, is a 
popular haunt of both foreigners and the Philippine elite. 
Philippine authorities have also implicated him in the 1993 
kidnapping of the American missionary Fr. Charles Walton. 
 
¶6.  (C) COMMENT.  Amiruddin is one of the most wanted 
terrorists in the Philippines, with 13 outstanding warrants 
for his arrest.  Although a mid-level operative, his 
long-standing association with the ASG and knowledge of its 
activities makes him a valuable prize.  Embassy working 
groups will now examine the possibility of a recommendation 
for payment under the US Rewards for Justice program. 
 
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm 
Kenney