PNP bags Dawlah Islamiyah recruiter
Madriñan is also said to be a close associate of Abu Sayyaf Group commander Mundi Sawadjaan, who is among the government’s most wanted terrorists
A leading member of the Dawlah Islamiya operating in Metro Manila was arrested by elements of the Quezon City Police on Monday.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief
PGen. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan announced the apprehension of Kevin Madriñan, also known by the aliases Ibrahim Abdullah Madriñan and Ibrahim Khalil Al-Garaba.
Madriñan took over as the terror group’s point person in Luzon following the arrest of Datu Omar Palte, also in Quezon City, at the start of the year.
Madriñan was presented to the members of the media by Cascolan after the weekly flag raising ceremony in Camp Crame.
The PNP Chief said Madriñan has long been in the wanted list as a liaison officer of the terrorist group in Luzon.
Madriñan is also said to be a close associate of Abu Sayyaf Group commander Mundi Sawadjaan, who is among the government’s most wanted terrorists.
Sawadjaan was responsible for last August’s deadly twin blasts in Jolo, Sulu and the explosions that rocked the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in January 2019.
“He (was) under investigation.
We (were) monitoring him. What we are looking into is the recruitment he has been doing here in Manila. His recruits, those we call “balik-Islam,” are sent to Mindanao for exposure on said (terror) activities,” he stated.
Cascolan noted that Madriñan, also an Islam convert, was apprehended by security officers late afternoon of Saturday, 19 September 2020, at Atherton corner Burbank Streets, North Fairview, Quezon City.
Seized from him were one .45 caliber pistol with a high-capacity magazine, a hand grenade, and three pieces of P1,000 bills.
Madriñan, Cascolan stated, had links with Ysuf Macoto of Cavite and Muhammad Paras of Bulacan.
Madriñan was left in Luzon to continue with his recruitment of converts when the two joined the Dawlah Islamiya forces in the siege of Marawi City in 2017.
The PNP Chief said Madriñan has long been in the wanted list as a liaison officer of the terrorist group in Luzon.
Both Macoto and Paras died in battle.
Madriñan took over as the terror group’s point person in Luzon following the arrest of Datu Omar Palte, also in Quezon City, at the start of the year.
Palte formerly belonged to a faction of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter led by Commander Esmael Abubakar alias “Bungos” and later joined Dawlah Islamiya, led by Esmael Adbulmalik alias “Turaife/Turaypi,” in 2018.