Two American brothers suspected of links to terrorism arrested in Philippines

Associated Press ^ | Dec 29, 2003 | Hrvoje Hranjski

[witnesstothefall]

MANILA, Philippines -- Philippine authorities said Monday that they have arrested two American brothers for suspected links to terrorism as the country remained on alert over the reported presence of foreign Muslim militants in the south.

Michael Ray Stubbs and his brother James, a convert to Islam, have been held at an undisclosed location since they were arrested earlier this month in the town of Tanza in Cavite province, 35 kilometers (21 miles) southwest of Manila, an immigration official said on condition of anonymity.

The official said the brothers were of Middle Eastern origin but gave no other details. The authorities did not disclose the exact charges the men could face or provide details about their alleged links to terrorism.

James Stubbs is known as Jamil Daoud Mujahid, according to U.S. State Department spokesman Adam Ereli, who said authorities in the Philippines notified American officials two days after the men were arrested on immigration charges on Dec. 13.

Consular officials from the U.S. Embassy met with both men on Dec. 17, Ereli said.

More information on the men was expected to be released Tuesday.

The arrests came as the government warned earlier this month that Indonesian members of the Southeast Asian terror group Jemaah Islamiyah have been training Filipino rebels in bomb-making and other tactics in the south of the country.

Jemaah Islamiyah, which has links to al-Qaida, is suspected of several terror attacks, including last year's Bali bombings that killed 202 people.

Philippine authorities say the group was involved in a series of December 2000 bombings that killed 22 people and injured more than 100 in the capital, Manila.

Since then, police and military forces have increased the security at ports, airports, train stations and other public places.

The Philippines previously has detained and deported foreigners on suspicion of terrorism.

In September, a Jordanian national, Mahmoud Afif Abdeljalil - believed to be a close associate of Osama bin Laden's brother-in-law - was arrested in the southern city of Zamboanga on charges of having an expired visa. After he was interrogated, he was ordered deported.

The previous year, immigration officials deported two Jordanian men, also suspected of having links to terrorists, after failing to find enough evidence to prosecute them.

[witnesstothefall]

Why is it we don't execute traitors anymore?

[Jackson Brown]

We don't execute traitors anymore because the law hasn't caught up with the "situation". Enemies -- and traitors -- are not that simple to define as before, since we don't have a COUNTRY with which we are at war.

Now, what we need is an system to allow traitors to be shot while "trying to escape" -- after all the info they may have had has been extracted.

[Paul Atreides]

I think that Helen Thomas has found two more idols, whose causes she can champion.

About the only people who can be executed now are the ones who murder those from a protected group, such as an abortion doctor or a homosexual.

[RIGHT IN LAS VEGAS]

[JudgemAll]

Why is it we don't execute traitors anymore?

Because too many have been reckless and taken the USA for granted and thus could be suspected of treachery.

It is the perfect alibi for cowards.

[Pharmboy]

Here they are...