JOINT police and military operatives have arrested the wife of a top leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group and seized bomb-making components in a law enforcement operation in the province of Sulu, the police reported Sunday, July 18, 2021.

The Sulu Provincial Police Office identified the arrested suspect as Fatima Nasser Anilhusra-Sawadjaan, 28, the wife of Abu Sayyaf Sub-Leader Mudzimar Sawadjaan alias Abu Mundi.

The police said Fatima was arrested Saturday, July 17, in a law enforcement operation by way of service of warrant of arrest against the Mundi in Sitio Badjao Annex, Bus-Bus village, Jolo, the capital town of Sulu.

The police said Mundi, who was involved in bombings and other terror acts in Sulu, and his cohorts eluded arrest.

The police said Fatima was allegedly pledging and supporting bombing activities of the Abu Sayyaf.

The joint team recovered from the residence of Sawadjaan the following: one MK2 Grenade; two bottles containing suspected ammonium nitrate and fuel oil used both as commercial explosive and in the manufacture of improvised bombs; two pieces of detonating cord; one safety fuse; one Android phone; and two identification cards of Elaida M Jumdail.

The arrested suspect is facing charges of illegal possession of explosives in violation of Republic Act No. 9516, and for violation of Republic Act No. 11479, an act preventing, prohibiting and penalizing terrorism, according to the police.

Meanwhile, Police Brigadier General Eden Ugale, Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) director, lauded the operating units for the successful law enforcement operation.

Ugle assured the public that PRO-BAR would continue to exhaust all options to prevent and fight terrorism in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. (SunStar Zamboanga)