Wanted son of top Moro leader held in custody here
PETALING JAYA: The son of a top Moro leader wanted in connection with last year’s deadly Davao City bombing in the Philippines has been in police custody here for the past two months.
Datu Mohammad Abduljabbar Sema, who reportedly was tracked going in and out of Thailand from Cambodia, came to Malaysia after his 30-day visa free entry into Thailand was about to expire.
He was nabbed at the KL International Airport on Nov 24, last year.
Philippine authorities contacted by The Star were tight-lipped on whether he would be sent home.
The Sept 12, terror attack on the Davao City night market killed 15 people and injured 69 others.
Seven others have been arrested in the Philippines for the attack blamed on the Maute Group which has links to the Islamic State.
Detail about the detention of Datu Mohammad, 26, was reported by VERA Files, founded in 2008 by Filipino journalists taking a deeper look into Philippine issues.
According to the report, the suspect is the son of Muslimin Sema, chairman of the largest group in the Moro National Liberation Front.
Muslimin Sema was also a former Cotabato City mayor and is considered to be a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission finalising the Malaysia-brokered peace deal between Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine government.
His mother Bai Sandra Sema belonged to the influential Sinsuat clan of Maguindanao and is a congresswoman of the first district of Maguindanao.
Both were reportedly in Malaysia last month to see their son.
His mother, according to VERA Files, is working for the release of her son through a pardon from Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte while his father sought the assistance of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza.
The Philippine government last month sent law enforcement representatives to Malaysia to record his statement.
Philippines defence secretary Lorenzana said the Philippines would request custody of Datu Mohammad.
VERA Files also said that Philippine police sources had declined to give specifics about Datu Mohammad’s role in the Davao City bombing.
His arrest is said to have an impact on the peace process as he is the son of an MNLF leader who will soon be appointed as a BTC member.
The BTC will resume formal work revising the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law that will create the new Bangsamoro region to replace the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao.