September 18, 2006: The 6,000 troops and police on Jolo island are certainly disrupting terrorist operations. Naval patrols caught a ferry trying to get half a ton of ammonium nitrate fertilizer (that can be used to make a large bomb) off the island. The sacks of fertilizer were hidden under a shipment of fish. Last month, 250 pounds of ammonium nitrate were found on Jolo.
The U.S. has offered to increase the number of military trainers in the country. This would enable twelve Filipino infantry battalions a year to go through a 4-6 month training course, to increase their capabilities.
Current government counter-terror operations have reduced the number of attacks by Islamic terrorists, and led to the capture of large quantities of bomb making material and several key terrorist leaders and technicians.
September 17, 2006: On Basilan island, police captured one of the three most sought after Abu Sayyaf leader, Angging Yunos.
September 11, 2006: On Jolo, police believe they killed Umar Patek, one of the Indonesian terrorists who participated in the 2002 Bali bombings.