|
Sunday, October 02, 2005
3 of 4 nabbed terror suspects are MILF men: spokesman
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO -- Three of four alleged members of the international terrorist group Jemaah Islamiya (JI) earlier arrested in North Cotabato are actually members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and not a terrorists as claimed, an MILF spokesperson said.
Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesman said Abdulsalam Salik, Sohudin Danda, and Omar Bantas all residents of Pigcawayan, North Cotabato are their members.
Another suspect, Kasan Datukon, 29, Kabalu said is a military agent.
According to Kabalu, Datukon was immediately released by the military few minutes after their arrest while the three were interrogated.
Kabalu said what happen is a set-up by the military. In fact, he added the military admitted these lapses and requested the local police to release the three MILF members due to the absence of evidence.
He added that according to reports it was Datukon who was caught in the possession of the homemade bomb and three MILF members just happened to be in the same vehicle Datukon was riding.
"He (Datukon) bought the bomb from a local bomb-maker for P25,000. He told the bomb-maker that the explosive would be used for the promotion of some military officers," Kabalu said.
Kabalu said the three were eventually released Friday upon the request of the commanding officer of the 3rd Infantry Army Battalion. The three are now back in their homes in Pigcawayan while Datukon is nowhere to be found.
Pigcawayan police reported Thursday that four suspected member of JI carrying an improvised bomb were arrested in North Cotabato province.
Officials said soldiers on Wednesday stopped a jeep near the village of Matilak in Pigkawayan town and found the bomb placed inside a cardboard box under the passenger seat.
An army spokesman Colonel Franklin del Prado said the bomb, rigged to a cell phone to trigger detonation, was packed with iron nails and made from ammonium nitrate, a chemical fertilizer used commonly by rebels to manufacture homemade bomb.
The military has been conducting a massive manhunt for Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani on Mindanao.
The JI has allegedly carried out terrorist attacks in the country with the Abu Sayyaf group, including the Valentine's Day bombings in the cities of Makati, Davao, and General Santos earlier this year. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(October 2, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
4 killed, 4 hurt in noon ambush