Suspected terrorist, Pinay girlfriend arrested in Malate
A suspected leader of an international terrorist group and his Filipina companion were arrested in a joint counter-terrorism operation conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Manila over the weekend. Assorted firearms, ammunition, components for improvised explosive device (IED), and a black ISIS flag were seized from the two suspects. The PNP identified the suspects as Fehmi Lassqued alias John Rasheed Lassqued, 33,said to be an Egyptian national; and Anabel Moncera Salipada, 32, of Upi, Maguindanao. Both were presented Monday by PNP Chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa and Brigadier General Bienvenido Datuin Jr, commander of AFP-Civil Relations Service (CRS), at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City. According to Dela Rosa, Lassqued had served as a negotiator between the ISIS leadership and local government officials in Syria and
ISIS RECRUITER — Egyptian Fehmi Lassqued, said to be a recruiter for ISIS, was arrested with his Filipina partner in an apartment in Ermita, Manila, Monday. (Ali Vicoy)
Turkey, and a former ISIS commander in the Syrian-Turkish border. He now serves as an active ISIS recruiter of Filipino terrorist fighters, Dela Rosa said.
Lassqued had entered the country in mid July 2016 via Iran, using a fake Tunisian passport. He has denied being an Egyptian, saying he is half Tunisian and half Libyan. He has admitted using a fake Tunisian passport.
“Ever since, he’s been in and out of Manila,” Dela Rosa told reporters.
Arrested in Malate Dela Rosa said Lassqued and Salipada were arrested at Room 409 of Casa Blanca Apartment on M. Adriatico St., Malate, Manila, late Friday by virtue of a search warrant issued by a local court.
Assorted firearms, ammunition, components for improvised explosive device (IED), and a black ISIS flag were seized from the two suspects.
Dela Rosa told reporters that they had “received information from our foreign counterparts about Lassqued.” “Then we did a case buildup and it turned out the information was positive. We applied the search warrant.”
Recruiting Pinoys The possibility that Lassqued has already made contact with interested Filipino terrorists was considered by Dela Rosa.
“If he can recruit via the Internet, how much more if he is already here. He has physical contact with possible recruits,” he added.
The two suspects are now detained at the PNP Camp Crame in Quezon City
Foreign trips It was learned that Lassqued made five foreign outings since he arrived in the country – three trips to and from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and two trips to and from Istanbul, Turkey – from July 26, 2016 to November 9, 2017.
Aside from foreign trips, authorities are now searching for the places the suspect visited in the Philippines.
He said Lassqued might have recruited via social media networks and personal visits in conflict-afflicted areas in the country.
Financial assistance Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police Office Director Oscar Albayalde said that Lassqued might have been offering financial assistance to prospected recruits to entice them to join the ISIS.
“One factor is finance. Apparently, he can sneak in money into the country. We have yet to determine how much money is involved,” he said.
Planning terror attack Albayalde also said there were indications that Lassqued was planning a terror attack because of the drawings of maps of unidentifiable places confiscated from him.
“There are indications (of possible terror plot) because we found some drawings, maps. We will conduct our final tactical interrogation and only then will we know other details,” Albayalde said.
Filipina companion
According to authorities, Salipada denied any involvement in the alleged terrorist activities of Lassqued.
Albayalde said Salipada might have been used as a cover for the terrorist acts of Lassqued.
“For cover, not necessarily she knew what she was doing but usually, if you want to remain in a specific place for a long time, you will look for a partner, or wife to make your stay legal,” he explained.
‘Safe’
Dela Rosa assured that the public is still safe and security remains on high alert.
“We are continuously conducting close coordination with airport authorities. It is a good thing that this terrorist was arrested, that means we’re still safe,” Dela Rosa said.
Cooperation
Meanwhile, Datuin said that the excellent collaboration and cooperation between the military and the PNP should be credited for the arrest of the suspected terrorist and his Filipina companion.
“Napakaganda nitong success ng joint operations of the AFP and PNP (The successful joint operations of the AFP and PNP is beautiful). Makikita natin ang (We can see the) collaboration and cooperation with the two sectors, two important forces in the security sector and I just hope natuloy-tuloy na ito (that this will continue), ”Datuin said.
AFP Spokesman Marine Col. Edgard Arevalo said the inspiring result of the joint AFP-PNP operation “is also a proof of what a robust intelligence sharing and collaboration can do to keep our nation and its people safe.”
Preliminary investigation The Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to conduct a preliminary investigation over the criminal raps filed against Lassqued and Moncera.
Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong said the foreigner and his Filipina girlfriend yesterday met their lawyer from the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) and decided to execute a waiver to their arbitrary detention and proceed with the preliminary investigation.
“They decided to execute a waiver and to submit their counter-affidavit next week Wednesday, February 28,” Ong said.
Lassqued and Monsera were subjected to inquest proceedings before Ong on Sunday in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City over the criminal raps filed by the National Capital Region Police Office-Regional Intelligence Division (NCRPO-RPIOU) for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition under Republic Act (RA) 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act of 2013); and illegal possession of explosives under RA 9516, the Act amending Presidential Decree 1866.
Ong noted that during Sunday’s proceedings the two had no lawyer and he suggested that they go to the DOJ Monday to meet with PAO lawyers who can represent them.
Planted?
Lassqued claimed that the weapon and IEDs have been planted by police.
“They want to make a case and make themselves as heroes. They catch big terrorist, international like that,” he told reporters as he denied being a member of ISIS and has been involved in planning terrorist attacks.
Lassqued said he participated in the 2011 revolution which unseated slain Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
“I joined the revolution against Gaddafi. The NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) helped us to remove Gaddafi,” he said.He said that after that, he was forced to leave the country using a fake passport.