Marwan's widow, 4 others nabbed in Lanao del Norte

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – A composite team, led by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), nabbed the widow of Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias "Marwan", and four others, including a a police officer, in two separate raids early Sunday in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

Arrested was Juromee Dongon, who is also known as Tata, Saynab and Zainab Janjalan. She is the widow of Zulkilfi Bin Hir, the former leader of Jamaah Islamiah in Southeast Asia, who was killed in a bloody raid in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25, 2015.

Arrested with her were her father Romeo Dongon, and sisters Norein and Lorilie Dongon-Atta. Also nabbed was Lorilie’s husband SPO4 Andy Atta.

Juromee and the Attas were first arrested at 6:22 a.m. in Barangay Poblacion in Tubod, Lanao del Norte by a combined force from the Fourth and Fifth Mechanized Infantry Battalions, CIDG, local police, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime group, and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA)

They were arrested as the authorities served search warrants for illegal possession of firearms and explosive.

In a separate operation in Barangay San Juan in Baroy, Lanao del Norte, Romeo Dongon and Norein were arrested.

Confiscated from them were two fragmentation grenades, a two pistols, one which was believed to be Atta’s service firearm; bomb-making components and live ammunition.

Supt. Lemuel Gonda, spokesman of the Police Regional Office 10, here, said the arrest of the suspects was successfully made with the cooperation of residents in the area.

The CIDG suspected that Atta, who was assigned in Basilan, has been responsible in providing terror groups operating in the province with firearms and explosives.

Before marrying Marwan, Juromee was the wife of slain Abu Sayyaf founding-leader Abdurajak Janjalani.

Authorities will be filing formal charges with the Regional Trial Court in Lanao del Norte today, the CIDG said.