Philippines: Bin Laden death 'will crush extremists'

Philippines security officials said today that they expect Osama bin Laden’s death to weaken local Islamic extremists and eventually lead to their end.

A captured Abu Sayyaf commander, however, said his former comrades have hardly been affected by such major foreign setbacks.

The Department of National Defence said in a statement today that bin Laden’s death in a US military operation in Pakistan would lead to the “total elimination” of the already isolated local terrorists.

Military spokesman Miguel Jose Rodriguez said Abu Sayyaf militants lost an inspirational leader and a sense of invincibility with bin Laden’s death.

But former Abu Sayyaf commander Abu Hamdie said the group has been affected by local circumstances more than outside events.