‘ISIS TERRORIST’ FALLS

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa yesterday announced the arrest of a suspected member of terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and his Filipina partner in Manila over the weekend.

Fehmi Lassoued, a native of Egypt, and his alleged partner, Anabel Moncera Salipada from Upi in Maguindanao, were arrested at Room 409, Casa Blanca Apartment along M. Adriatico, Malate, Manila.

Dela Rosa said Lassoued entered the country with a fake Tunisian passport In July 2016.

Police allegedly recovered from the couple assorted firearms, ammunition and components for an improvised explosive device (IED) such as electronic circuits, resistors, capacitors, batteries, and pipe fittings.

Dela Rosa said Lassoued’s arrest was a result of a joint PNPArmed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) counter-terrorism opera- tion based on information from their foreign counterparts.

“The arrest of Lassoued and Salipada may have effectively thwarted whatever hostile activities they were up to, but we will not lower our guard,” he said.

Authorities are trying to determine the extent of the couple’s involvement in terror groups. Authorities are also looking into Lassoued’s possible involvement in the Marawi seige. / ANNE P. MALONZO / SUNSTAR PHILIPPINES

FOTO COURTESY OF PNP-PIO TERROR THREAT. Police say they have foiled a terror threat with the arrest of suspected terrorist Fehmi Lassoued (in orange top). The suspect was presented before the media together with the items allegedly seized from him and his Filipina partner.