From the PCIJ:
Despite the President’s insistence in a speech to broadcasters just last week that Babao was “instrumental in bailing out a terrorist,” ABS-CBN asserted today that its newscaster was innocent and announced that the journalist, who went on leave when the investigation started, would resume his anchoring duties today.
“We find the evidence shows there is absolutely no truth to the charges against Babao: he neither posted nor guaranteed bail for Dawud Santos,” the 11-page ABC-CBN investigation report concluded.
Not only did the fake president falsely accused Babao of freeing a terrorist, but it also looks like Mike Defensor's asset Jonathan Tiongco was the one who bailed out Dawud Santos.
In its investigation, however, ABS-CBN found that Tiongco was at the office of the bail bond company, Summit Guaranty, negotiating for Santos’s bail when he called Babao and passed on the phone to the woman who was then processing Santos’s bond. In that conversation, Babao asked how much the bail was and why the amount—P200,000—was so large. He then asked that the phone be given back to Tiongco.
“The evidence is definitive and clear regarding the guarantors of the bond,” the network’s report said. “Summit Guaranty and Insurance Company documents released to ABS-CBN show two guarantors and their signatures: Domeng Villeta and Jonathan Tiongco.”
The report therefore concluded: “We feel although Babao may have been too trusting of Jonathan Tiongco, there is no proof Babao violated any ethical boundaries.”
Can't wait for Mrs. Arroyo's next hirit.
And while GMA is busying leveling baseless accusations against media people re "freeing terrorists," here's a report from the Tribune that shows it was the Arroyo admin who was pressured by Saudi Arabia into freeing 2 Islamic terror suspects.
Claimed by the Republican think tank Heritage Foundation that President Arroyo is an unreliable United States ally in the US global war against terror, having caved in to the demands of a Philippine contingent pullout by the Iraqi terrorists holding Filipino hostage truck driver Angelo de la Cruz, the President was marked down again by the US government as having freed two foreign terror suspects on the list of the Philippine and American governments.
This release of alleged terrorists was ordered by the Chief Executive, despite her claims of staging an all out war against terrorists in support of US President George W. Bush's stand, a US intelligence report said.
The two terror suspects were said to have been freed last year and early this year.
According to foreign intelligence reports, the Arroyo government allowed the deportation of at least two alleged terrorists, the latest suspect's release having been effected last Jan. 25 this year.
The intelligence reports, a copy of which was obtained by the Tribune, showed that in one instance, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and Immigration chief Alipio Fernandez engaged in negotiations, with the participation of the Saudi Arabians, on the release and deportation of the suspected al-Qaeda operative who goes by the name of Abadallah Nasser Al-Arifi.
The intelligence reports also stated that Mrs. Arroyo knew and approved the release of the suspect who is reportedly on the Philippine and United States government watchlist.
According to the report, Mrs. Arroyo gave specific instructions to Gonzales to keep the issue away from the media.
“Philippine National Security Adviser Norberto (Gonzales) spoke to him (Fernandez) and explained that Macapagal-Arroyo ordered them to facilitate the release (of al-Arifi) and reiterated to keep the details of Arifi's detention confidential and out of the Philippine media,” the intelligence report stated...
Gonzales allegedly maintained that a similar incident on January 25, 2005 involving one Mohamad Abdullah al-Sughayr, an alleged financier of the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), became the banner story of two national dailies, one of which was the Tribune.
The report said Gonzales allegedly stated that Mrs. Arroyo was concerned that “opposition groups might exploit this issue to their advantage.”
The same report also stated under “Headquarters comment” that “On March 18 Arifi was released from Philippine government detention into the custody of the Saudi ambassador,” adding that “Arifi departed the Philippines on March 21,”
The same report also stated that Arifi arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on March 16, 2005 on board a Philippine Airlines flight.
Arifi, according to the report, had been detained by the Bureau of Immigration on the ground that his name was on the BI's watchlist.
The report stated that Arifi has “connections with the Saudi Royal family” and “may have been traveling in conjunction with the Saudi Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Bin Ibrahim al-(Na'imi), who met with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on March 21, 2005.”
The report also stated Arifi's release and subsequent departure had been facilitated by the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the Philippines, Muhammad Amin and a “dual Lebanese/US citizen” who goes by the name of Joseph Beshara.
It was stated in the report that Beshara is a long-time resident of the Philippines, as he has been residing in the country for 25 years.
Beshara, the report stated, has played a key role in the release of Angelo de la Cruz, who was hostaged by Iraqi militants by opening “a dialogue with Iraqi militants.”
In a separate intelligence report dated “February 15, 2005,” an alleged finance officer of the al-Qaeda network in Asia by the name of Muhammad al-Sughayr was also released and allowed to fly out of the country on orders of Mrs. Arroyo.
“By way of background, captioned subject was detained by the Philippine government on approximately January 17, 2005 for questioning. On January 25, 2005, al-Sughayr was released from custody, allegedly at the personal request from the Saudi Ambassador to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and the Philippine government initiated actions to deport captioned subject.”
“On January 26, 2005, al-Sughayr flew out of Manila on board Saudi Airlines Flight 869 to Jeddah and then continued onto Riyahd, Saudi Arabia,” the intelligence report stated.
The request of the Saudi ambassador was reportedly made during a flight to Davao City with Mrs. Arroyo on January 24, 2005.
This has been confirmed. The Saudi Ambassador was on board the private plane with Mrs. Arroyo on a flight to Davao City.
It was also confirmed that al Sugahayr was detained at the BI but was quickly released from detention and made to leave the country.
“The Saudi Ambassador allegedly made the request for the release of Sughayr, and referred to medical assistance aid currently being provided in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to the separation of conjoined twins, and the multitude of overseas Filipino workers currently enjoying prosperity and freedom in the region,” the report said.
The US intel report also pointed out that al-Sughayr is listed in the United States Pacific Command (Uspacom), Department of Defense (DoD) Rewards Program Wanted List.
It said information obtained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation “suggests that al-Sughayr is a financier of the regional terror networks: Abu Sayyaf Group and JI, in addition to numerous non-government organizations including Dar al-Hijra Foundation, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the International Islamic Relief Organization.
An earlier Tribune report on al-Sughayr pointed to the flow of money to the JI, laundered through these foundations that have been set up.
The Arroyo admin freed al-Sughayr even though he is listed in the United States Pacific Command (Uspacom), Department of Defense (DoD) Rewards Program Wanted List. Great!
And here's are some key points from the article on Arifi:
Arifi, according to the report, had been detained by the Bureau of Immigration on the ground that his name was on the BI's watchlist....
Mrs. Arroyo knew and approved the release of the suspect who is reportedly on the Philippine and United States government watchlist....
Philippine National Security Adviser Norberto (Gonzales) spoke to him (Fernandez) and explained that Macapagal-Arroyo ordered them to facilitate the release (of al-Arifi) and reiterated to keep the details of Arifi's detention confidential and out of the Philippine media,” the intelligence report stated....
Back to Sughayr. I remember his name because I posted re it back in March 4, 2005.
26 Indons in Lanao for terrorist training
Arroyo's deportation of financier derailed hunt
TWO groups of Indonesians arrived separately in Mindanao in January for extensive training in a terrorist camp in Lanao del Sur.
The first group of 21 arrived on Jan. 21. The remaining five landed in Mindanao, through Malaysia, on Jan. 28.
The two groups came with two trainers identified as Abulkiram and Mujair al-Ghozi, brother of the late Fathur al-Ghozi who was identified as responsible for bombings in Metro Manila and in Davao....
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, military intelligence sources said, facilitated the movement of the two groups.
An independent source provided this newspaper with the identities of some in the first group of 21 terrorist trainees. They are Anwar Narsid, Sahibon Gulam, Farhan Jiahod, Zil Autad, Gafor Wadood, Omar Amiril, Farnan Dawalis, Ishaq Buday, Zainal Mandaya, Hasim Mufri, Watani Azibul, Farouk Rajab, Burhan Usungan, Nur Salih, Jazali Mauladie, Hesam Abdul Guimadil Mojib and Habib Taloot.
The source said the Indonesian terrorist-trainees could have been tracked down and arrested if President Arroyo had not allowed the deportation to Saudi Arabia of Al Sughayir, a known financier of the Al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiah in Asia.
Ah say ah say ah say... READ THE WHOLE THING.
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