Alert up for Davao fest as JI man admits bomb plot

Security has been tightened in Davao City even as an alleged Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) bomb expert admitted being on a bombing mission to disrupt Friday’s Araw ng Dabaw celebration. With thousands coming over for the celebration, Task Force Davao has increased its patrols and tightens inspections in checkpoints, said Colonel Alan Luga, task force commanding officer. "There are additional security measures that we always put in place regardless if there is an existing threat or not, Davao City is always part of the plan of terrorists because it is a prime target," he said in an interview with Sun-Star Davao. He also admitted not knowing about the bombing mission claimed by JI member Akmad Salludin, who was arrested before dawn last Tuesday. Authorities are still tracking down at least two of Salludin's companions. Colonel Francis Alaorin, commander of the 37th Infantry Batallion (IB) and CIDG-ARMM chief Senior Superintendent Roberto Badian said Salludin’s comrades are still at large and are the subjects of manhunt operations. Salludin, who was arrested in a safehouse in Tambo village in Sultan Mastura, Shariff Kabunsuan, had admitted that he was on a bombing mission to disrupt the 70th Araw ng Dabaw celebration in Davao City. Salludin, who was presented to media Wednesday, said he received orders from JI bomber Basit Usman to plant a bomb at the Araw ng Dabaw celebration on March 16, and the Sultan Mastura Day Thursday. Intelligence operatives of the Army's 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao conducted the raid. Found in Salludin's safehouse were two improvised explosive devices (IED), two live ammunition of a rocket propelled grenade (RPG), a Christmas light, tester, battery timer, a soldering gun, and a Nokia 3310 cellular phone. Basit Usman, also known as Abdul Batabol Usman, has been tagged as the brains behind several bombings in Central Mindanao. He is a local bomb expert fielded to make and plant bombs in target cities. He is also among the most wanted "terrorists" in the US government's list with the US Government Rewards Program offering up to $50,000 (approximately P2.5-million) for information leading to his apprehension. Meanwhile, police are investigating reports of "mistaken identity" of a suspected Abu Sayyaf man arrested by military and intelligence officers last March 10 at the wharf of Isabel City in Basilan province. A police official of the Basilan Philippine National Police (PNP) said investigation is being conducted on the claims of the relatives of Al Jakirani who was arrested by the military last Saturday on suspicion that he is Abu Usman, an Abu Sayyaf member. The police official who spoke on condition of anonymity said in an interview that the relatives presented to the police proof of identity of Jakirani. "The relatives showed documents identifying the arrested person as Al Jakirani and not Al-hari Jakiri alias Abu Usman as earlier claimed," he said. "They claimed we got the wrong guy and pleaded for his release," he added. The police official said Al Alih, who claimed to be a relative of Al Jakirani told police investigators it was Al Jakirani, 18, a pedicab driver and a resident of Malamawi village in Isabela City, Basilan, and not the suspect Abu Usman, who the military had arrested. He said Alih further claimed that his nephew, Al Jakirani, was only 12 years old then, selling cigarettes at the public market in Isabela City, when the siege at Golden Harvest Plantation happened. A joint military and police team arrested last Saturday a suspected member of the Abu Sayyaf who is believed to be wanted for the kidnappings and killings of plantation workers in 2001 in Basilan. Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao, PNP-ARMM chief, earlier identified the arrested as Al-hari Jakiri alias Abu Usman, who was among those wanted for the beheading of nine workers of the Golden Harvest Plantation in Tairan, Lantawan, Basilan. The bandits seized the plantation workers to divert the military's attention from its pursuit operations against another group of Abu Sayyaf guerillas that seized 20 people, including three Americans from Dos Palmas, Palawan. The Abu Sayyaf bandits also burned some houses of the plantation workers at the time they seized the farmers. Goltiao said Abu Usman was arrested by combined elements from the Navy, intelligence group, Marines and the police. Abu Usman is facing three counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention, Goltiao said. Nine people were beheaded – one was shot dead while 30 others were abducted – when Abu Sayyaf gunmen raided the Golden Harvest Plantation in 2001. The suspect was first placed under the custody of the Western Mindanao Command headquarters in Upper Calarian, Zamboanga City to undergo tactical interrogation. Then he was brought to the Provincial Jail to face the charges filed against him in court. The Basilan police official said if it can be proven that the wrong person was arrested, the police will act accordingly - the jailed Al Jakirani will be released. "But we are still investigating the claims of the relatives," he said. He also said the relatives have informed the Office of the Commission on Human Rights about the arrest. - GMANews.TV