Major setbacks for top ASG bomb expert
Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bomb expert Mudzrimar “Mundi” Sawadjaan suffered devastating personal setbacks after his top aide was captured and his cousin killed in separate operations launched by government forces in Mindanao.
On Sunday, Hashim Saripada, who uses the alias Ibnu Kashir Saripada, was collared in Barangay Recodo in Zamboanga City at around 6:30 a.m.
Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan said the operation stemmed from a tip that the local police got that Saripada was spotted in Zamboanga City last week. Saripada is facing cases of multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder. Then a day later, at around 9 a.m. Monday, Sawadjaan’s cousin Arsibar Sawadjaan, an ASG sub-leader, and, himself, a bomb maker, was killed in an encounter with the military in Patikul, Sulu.
This was confirmed by Joint Task Force Sulu Commander Brig. Gen. William Gonzales.
According to 45th Infantry Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Ruben Guinolbay, his men were conducting security operations in Barangay Maligay in Patikul when they were fired upon by about 30 to 40 armed men at around 9 a.m.
This sparked by a fierce gun battle for about 50 minutes before the enemy retreated to the east of Barangay Maligay.
Arsibar’s body was recovered at the encounter site.
"The enemies possibly incurred more casualties as evident in the bloodstains in the encounter site," Guinolbay said.
On the other hand, no casualty was recorded on the side of the government forces.
The charges against Saripada stemmed from his alleged involvement in the July 2018 bombing of a military detachment in Lamitan City that left 11 people dead and several other people injured.
The bombing was carried out by Moroccan suicide bomber Abu Kathir Al-Maghribi using a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED). But it was Saripada who allegedly planned and prepared the bombs used.
It was also Saripada who allegedly facilitated Al-Maghribi’s travel from Sulu to Basilan.
Likewise, Saripada and Mundi Sawadjaan reportedly prepared the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated by an Indonesia couple at the Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu on January 27, 2019 that killed at least 21 people and injured more than 100 other churchgoers.
Brig. Gen. Edgar Monsalve, director of the PNP’s Intelligence Group (IG), said Saripada left Basilan after the military detachment suicide bombing, and hid in an island in Sulu. He was then tapped by Sawadjaan for the Jolo Cathedral blast, and immediately left Jolo after the twin suicide bombing.
“We are now conducting interrogation to extract information from him with regard his past activities and other plans,” said Monsalve.
Cascolan said the arrest of Saripada dealt a huge blow to the operation of local terrorists based in Sulu.
“He is a top assistant of Sawadjaan, and, with his arrest, most of all the terrorism activities they plan will no longer push through,” said Cascolan.
Sawadjaan was also linked to the suicide bombings last month in downtown Jolo that left at least 15 people dead and more than 75 other injured. Some of those killed and wounded are policemen and soldiers.
On September 12, police intelligence operatives also arrested an alleged recruiter for Dawlah Islmiya in Metro Manila in a raid in Quezon City.