Police arrest 3 Sayyaf men, foil terror attack
The Philippine National Police has arrested three suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group who were tasked to stage a terror attack while the country was holding the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Manila.
PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa identified the suspects as Abdulgaffar Jikiri, 19; Sadam Jhofar, 24; and Alim Sabtalin, 19. They were nabbed at 5:15 p.m. last Nov. 10 in Salaam Compound, Barangay Culiat, Quezon City.
Dela Rosa said they have verified that the three are Abu Sayyaf members. Jikiri, who served as the leader of the mission, is under Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf leader Furuji Indama.
He said they received information about Jikiri’s arrival in Manila from Basilan Island last October for a mission.
Jikiri was to spend the day in areas where the meetings were held, allegedly to scout the place.
Dela Rosa said Jikiri was found to have posted on his social media account under the name Abu Bakar Jikiri photos of high-powered firearms and improvised explosive devices.
Photos of a mall and a park in Manila, which police believed to be the targets, were also posted.
“Apparently may plano sila... anything that would cause damage to the recognition of the Philippine government as a host of the Asean summit,” said Dela Rosa.
Dela Rosa said they did not immediately release the informa- tion about the arrest of the suspects because they did not want to cause fear and anxiety during the Asean summit, held in Manila on November 13 to 15.
Recovered from the suspects were a caliber .45, M1911 US Army, a magazine with four live ammunition, two M203 rifle grenades, several cellular phones, a caliber 9mm with four live ammunition, and caliber .45 Colt M1911 with three live ammunition.
The PNP chief said they are yet to verify if the arrested suspects took part in any other illegal activities such as kidnapping and other terror attacks.
He said they were also conducting follow-up operation for the identification and arrest of their other possible cohorts.