Philippines rejects US warning that Mindanao a haven for Islamic militants

[Judi Lynn]

Philippines rejects US warning that Mindanao a haven for Islamic militants

20 minutes ago Asia - AFP



MANILA, (AFP) - President Gloria Arroyo rejected a US warning that the southern Philippines was becoming a "mecca" for Islamic militants and could become the next Afghanistan.

Joseph Mussomeli, the number-two official of the US embassy here has cited training activity of Muslim militants on Mindanao, apparently with the cooperation of certain factions of a separatist guerrilla group that is set to hold peace talks with Manila next weekend.

These groups trained in bomb-making in Mindanao and had conducted bombing campaigns in the country, he said in comments to SBS television of Australia. The transcripts were posted on the US embassy website.

"We are making gains against terrorism and poverty every single day and week that passes," Arroyo spokesman Ignacio Bunye retorted.

"Such negative hyperbole to describe the Mindanao situation is out of tune with what is happening on the ground," Bunye added.
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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1530&ncid=731&e=1&u=/afp/20050411/wl_asia_afp/philippinesusattacksmindanao

[oblivious]

1. Got oil? Got gas? Got minerals?

Philippines discover deposits of oil and gas in Mindanao

09-02-05 Huge deposits of oil and natural gas have been identified in at least three areas in Mindanao, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).

http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/discover/dix50854.htm

Troops in the Philippines point to a new Pentagon strategy

The Philippines is estimated to have 3.7 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves. The Malampaya offshore field, the largest natural gas development in Philippine history, was discovered off Palawan by Shell Philippines Exploration. Many other oil and gas corporations have investments in the country. The largest deposits of oil and gas in Asia could lie in the region.

http://www.towardfreedom.com/2003/jun03/colonial.htm

Oil and Gas in the Philippines

Mindanao, Minsupala, Sulu and Palawan are now "confirmed oil country." Discoveries of oil and gas in Palawan and Cotabato in turn reinforce the satellite findings of the National Space Agency that the largest deposits of oil and gas in Asia could lie in the area covered by Minsupala." The report goes so far as to call Minsupala "the Middle East of the near future."

http://www.onlinejournal.com/Special_Reports/Chin072502/chin072502.html