Filtered By: Topstories
News

3 suspected Abu Sayyaf bombers arrested in Taguig


The military on Wednesday claimed to have foiled a series of bombing attacks in Metro Manila with the arrest of three suspected Abu Sayyaf members. The three - Abdul Racman Samuel alias Aladin; Joher Guiamelon alias Asir, Demalon and Ter; and Mujahid Guiamelon alias Ming Demalon and Lupin - were nabbed during a raid in Maharlika Village in Taguig City at around 1 a.m., according to Maj. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu, commander of the military’s National Capital Region Command (NCRCom). Seized from the suspects were detonating cords, three blasting caps, and three hand grenades. “As gleaned from the recovered items in their possession, the subjects are apparently in the initial stage of preparation for possible conduct of bombing at still undetermined target or targets," Mapagu said. The three were arrested by intelligence operatives of NCRCom, Intelligence Security Group of the Army, and Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group by virtue of warrant issued by a Sarangani court where they are facing murder, arson, and robbery charges. Mapagu said the three are members of the Abu Sayyaf cell under Abdulbasit Usman, who is believed to be a rogue member of the secessionist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The US government has offered $1 million for Usman’s neutralization. Links to JI The Army general further said available information “points to the foreign terror group Jemaah Islamiyah as behind this foiled plot." “Usman’s terror cell is known to have strong links with the JI and the [Abu Sayyaf]," Mapagu said. Mapagu said that based from information given to them by a previously arrested suspect, the three arrived in Metro Manila just recently. The military is bracing for retaliatory attacks by the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf in Metro Manila and Mindanao following last month's killing of Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad and five others in Sulu. Tight security in Sulu In Sulu, security forces have stepped up its patrol operations to capture the remaining senior leaders of the Abu Sayyaf there. “We have increased our patrol to protect villagers from possible attacks by the Abu Sayyaf, especially now that many terrorist leaders had been killed in past and recent operations," said Senior Superintendent Joseph Ramac, the provincial police chief. Police last week captured a senior Abu Sayyaf member Mujibar Amon in Indanan town after residents secretly tipped off authorities about his presence. Amon was involved in last year’s kidnappings of three Red Cross workers, and the cross-border raid in Malaysia’s Sipadan island resort in 2000 where 21 mostly European and Asian tourists were likewise abducted. He was also tagged as among those who kidnapped US tourist Jeffrey Shilling in the same year. Senior Superintendent Bienvenido Latag, the police chief in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), said the killing of Parad and the capture of Amon had crippled the Abu Sayyaf. Sulu Governor Sakur Tan said he is supporting the government offensive against the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya. “Sulu is a peaceful province. It is only these terrorists groups which are destroying our beautiful province. My people are fed up with their atrocities," he said. - with Al Jacinto/KBK, GMANews.TV

LOADING CONTENT