The Philippine Star

Abu Sayyaf financier arrested in Parañaque

- By NON ALQUITRAN

A leader of the Abu Sayyaf bandit group was arrested by oint police and military forces in Para aque City yesterday.

hair Mundos, , said to be Abu Sayyaf’s financier and middleman in the rebel group’s transactio­n with the al-Qaeda terrorist networ , was nabbed at his brother’s house on onifacio Street, arangay San Dionisio, the Criminal Investigat­ion and Detection roup (CID ) said.

Mundos allegedly receives money from al-Qaeda to finance Abu Sayyaf’s terrorist activities, said CID -National Capital Region head Senior Superinten­dent Roberto Fa ardo.

Fa ardo said the suspect admitted being a former commander of the Abu Sayyaf.

e allayed fears that Mundos would lead a terror attac in Metro Manila during the celebratio­n of the Independen­ce Day today.

$500,000 reward

Mundos carries a , bounty on his head offered by the ustice Department of the nited States for his alleged involvemen­t in the raid at the Dos Palmas resort in Palawan in 1.

Fa ardo said he escaped from a ail in idapawan, Cotabato in .

Mundos is facing charges of multiple murder and frustrated murder.

Since his escape from ail in , he sought refuge with his relatives in Metro Manila to escape the heat in Mindanao,” Fa ardo said.

The CID official said Mundos’ arrest came following two months of surveillan­ce operations.

The arresting lawmen headed by Superinten­dent Danilo Macerin of the CID and Chief Inspector ilfredo Sy of the Para aque police served the warrant for his arrest.

Southern Police District director Chief Superinten­dent ose Erwin illacorte said the CID coordinate­d with the Para aque police, but their role was limited only to providing bac up to the arresting team.

ith Mundos’ arrest, the military is hopeful that the funding sources of the Abu Sayyaf will be affected.

e hope that we disrupt the funding ( of the terrorist group),” Peter alvez, spo esman for the defense department, told reporters.

alvez called on the sympathize­rs and members of the Abu Sayyaf to abandon terrorism.

Terrorism will lead to nowhere. It affects the developmen­t of the country. They should lay down their arms,” he said.

Retaliator­y attacks

The military, on the other hand, remains on alert against possible retaliator­y attac s from the Abu Sayyaf, said rig. en. Carlito alvez, commander of the Army’s 1 th rigade in asilan.

e said they have deployed more troops in coordinati­on with the asilan provincial police office to thwart any terror attac by the Abu Sayyaf.

With Ale[is omero, oel Parexo, Perseus (cheminada

 ??  ?? Khair Mundos waits to be interrogat­ed by CIDG agents at Camp Crame yesterday.
BOY SANTOS
Khair Mundos waits to be interrogat­ed by CIDG agents at Camp Crame yesterday. BOY SANTOS

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