Isis, Al-Qaeda Filipino conduit nabbed

‘MOST WANTED’

POLICE arrested on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, one of the most wanted, internationally- recognized terrorists in an operation in Indanan, Sulu, southern Philippines.

In a press conference, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. announced the arrest of Myrna Ajilul Mabanza, 32, who is said to be a former teacher.

Mabanza was served an arrest warrant by elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in an operation conducted with the local police at around 6:30 a.m. in Barangay Pasil, Indanan, Sulu.

Mabanza’s arrest warrant was issued by the Zamboanga Regional Trial Court in December 2023 for violations of the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 and the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

She was declared by the United States Defense Department as a “specially designated global terrorist” along with Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) founder Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi and late terrorist Isnilon Hapilon, leader of the Daulah Islamiyah-Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who was appointed as “emir of all Islamic State forces in the Philippines” prior to his death in 2017 during the infamous Battle of Marawi.

Mabanza is the widow of a Malaysian terrorist who is believed to have influenced her Isil ideologies.

CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Romeo Caramat said Mabanza facilitated the transfer of funds from international financiers to local terrorist leaders, including Hapilon, since 2016.

In April 2016, she also helped facilitate the travel of a Jamaah Ansharut Daulah ( JAD) representative who traveled from Indonesia to the Philippines for a meeting with Hapilon.

The JAD representative traveled to the Philippines to purchase arms for Isis-aligned forces in Indonesia and to set up training courses with Isis-Philippines for pro-Isis recruits from Indonesia.

Acorda described the arrest of Mabanza as a big blow to Isis-Philippines as this will affect the terrorist group’s cash flow used for terrorist attacks.