DI bomber falls

The operations were also joined by soldiers from the 90th and 72nd Infantry Battalions, the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion and intelligence units

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Joint Task Force Central commander Maj. Gen. Roy Galido disclosed on Wednesday that an individual believed to be the improvised explosive devices maker of the Daulah Islamiyah-Hassan Group was arrested by authorities in President Roxas, North Cotabato.

Galido said that the suspect — identified as Jordan Akmad, also known as Jordan Kamad — is also believed to be a suspect in the bombing of bus terminals in Davao City and Kabacan, Cotabato.

The suspect was arrested in Barangay Salat, President Roxas, North Cotabato at dawn on Tuesday.

The JTF-Central commander said that troops from the 602nd Infantry Brigade under Col. Donald Gumiran and the President Roxas Municipal Police Station conducted the joint law enforcement operation that resulted in the arrest of Akmad.

The operations were also joined by soldiers from the 90th and 72nd Infantry Battalions, the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion and intelligence units.

Akmad, a known IED maker, bomber and extortionist of the DI-Hassan Group, was also reportedly involved in the bombing of the bus terminals in Davao City and Kabacan, Cotabato.

Police records showed that Akmad also faces a string of arrest warrants ranging from multiple frustrated murders to murder.

He is also associated with Ali Akbar, the leader of the Al Khobar Group who was arrested in June 2021 after he was identified as the mastermind in the YBL bus bombing in Tulunan, North Cotabato in January 2021 and the burning of the YBL bus in M’Lang, North Cotabato in June of the same year that killed four innocent civilians.

Akmad is now in the custody of President Roxas Municipal Police Station for the filing of appropriate charges.