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Thursday, March 15, 2007
JI bomb suspect admits 'Araw' bombing plot
By Rex C. Otero and Garry Fuerzas
DAVAO CITY -- An alleged bomb expert of the Jemaah Islamiya (JI) who was arrested before dawn Tuesday in Shariff Kabunsuan province claimed he was supposed to go on a bombing mission for the 70th Araw ng Dabaw celebration.
Intelligence operatives of the 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CIDG-Armm) raided a safehouse at Barangay Tambo in Sultan Mastura town around 2:45 a.m. Tuesday.
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Akmad Salludin was arrested in the same raid, said military's Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) chief, Lieutenant General Rodolfo Obaniana.
Salludin was presented to the media Wednesday at the CIDG-Armm headquarters in PC Hill, Cotabato City, where he admitted that he was tasked by Basit Usman to plant a bomb during the Araw ng Dabaw celebrations on March 16 and the Sultan Mastura Day Thursday.
Task Force Davao commanding officer, Colonel Alan R. Luga, admitted not knowing about Salludin's claim of a bombing mission, but he said, even without such, security measures are always up in the city, especially during special events like the Araw ng Dabaw celebration.
"There are additional security measures that we always put in place regardless if there is an existing threat or not, Davao City is always part of the plan of terrorists because it is a prime target," he said in a telephone interview Wednesday.
With thousands coming over for the celebration, Task Force Davao has increased its patrols and tightens inspections in checkpoints, he said.
Found in the safehouse of Salludin were two improvised explosive devices (IED), two live ammunition of a rocket propelled grenade (RPG), a Christmas light, tester, battery timer, a soldering gun, and a Nokia 3310 cellular phone.
Colonel Francis Alaorin, commander of the 37th IB and CIDG-Armm chief Roberto Badian revealed that two of Salludin's companions are still at large and is the subject of their manhunt operations.
Salludin is said to be an associate of Usman, also known as Abdul Batabol Usman -- the alleged brains behind several bombings in Central Mindanao. Usman is a local bomb expert fielded to make and plant bombs in target cities.
Usman, on the other hand, is among the most wanted "terrorists" in the US government's list with the US Government Rewards Program offering up to $50,000 (approximately P2.5-million) for information leading to his apprehension. (With a report from Stella A. Estremera)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (March 15, 2007 issue)
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