ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A supposed plot to bomb vital installations and public places was thwarted when joint police and military intelligence forces captured an Abu Sayyaf bomb expert and a police accomplice here last Friday, authorities said.
Captured were Rakib Janihul Jairi, alias Abu Sulaiman, and his suspected accomplice, PO3 Asbi Sahibol, detailed with the Hadji Motamad town police in Basilan.
Senior Superintendent James Mejia, city police chief, confirmed the arrest but gave no details, except giving assurance that they would not let up in eventually catching other terrorists.
According to a security source, Jairi and Sahibol were collared in a coffee shop last Friday in this city’s downtown area.
He said the target of the arrest was Jairi, who had a pending warrant for his participation in a mass kidnapping in Tumahubong, Sumisip, Basilan and the kidnapping of plantation workers in Tairan, Lantawan town, also in Basilan, in 2000 and 2001.
“However, during the arrest, the suspect was having a meeting with Sahibol in the coffee shop,” he said.
He said the joint police and military intelligence agents found an improvised explosive in the belt-bag of Sahibol.
Jairi is now undergoing tactical interrogation in a police camp here.
Authorities said Jairi, who underwent foreign training in demolition and sabotage, is reportedly training Abu Sayyaf militants in bomb making.
Jairi, they added, was targeting to bomb at least five targets at the height of the city’s Fiesta Pilar celebration but heavy military presence in the downtown area thwarted this plan.
Article Source: Roel Pareño, Philstar News Service
