3 suspected ASG men nabbed in QC

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) is placed on high terror alert after three alleged members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were arrested during a raid on a Muslim area in the city Friday night.

Joint operatives of the QCPD, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), and National Bureau of Investigation-Counter Terrorism Division nabbed Abdulgaffar Jikiri, known as Abu Bakar Jikiri and Alim Sabtalin, both 19; and Sadam Jhofar, 24, in a Muslim neighborhood in Quezon City.

The team arrested the suspects in their residence at Salaam Compound in Barangay Culiat around 5:15 p.m. after receiving information from sources.

During the raid, authorities seized from them various firearms, ammunitions, two M203 rifle grenades, and cellular phones.

Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, QCPD director, said investigation and follow-up operations are being conducted to validate the involvement of the suspects in ASG.

The suspected ASG members were brought for inquest at the city prosecutor’s office for illegal possession of firearms in relation to the 15-day gunban period for the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

Around 2,513 QCPD personnel are part of the 60,000 officers deployed for the summit, based on the data from the National Capital Region Office.

Eleazar added that their police forces are continuously conducting anti-criminality measures to ensure the security and safety of the community as well as the summit delegates.