MANILA, Philippines—Philippine security officials said Tuesday they expect Osama bin Laden's death to weaken local Islamic extremists and lead to their eventual elimination, but a captured Abu Sayyaf commander said his comrades have hardly been affected by previous foreign setbacks.The military and police have strengthened security in the country's southern Mindanao region, where the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf has waged attacks for years, but have not monitored any specific threats arising from the US military assault that killed the world's most wanted terror suspect early Monday in Pakistan.
More than 500 American troops have been helping Filipino counterparts fight the militants with weapons, combat training and intelligence for nearly a decade. The Abu Sayyaf, which has an estimated 410 fighters, is listed by Washington as a terrorist organization for bombings, kidnappings and beheadings.
"The demise of the principal patron of terrorism and the isolation of these terrorists will subsequently bring about their decimation and total elimination," the Department of National Defense said.
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