JOINT police and military operatives arrested two people and seized improvised explosives and bomb-making components in the island town of Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan province, a police official said.
Police Captain Jerry Flores, Hadji Muhtamad Municipal Police chief, identified the arrested suspects as Siddik Allama Jailani, 40, a fish merchant and Al-Amin Ajijun Suhayli, 36, a fisherman.
Flores said they were conducting seaborne operation when they arrested the suspects around 6:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 12, off the island village of Sangbay Big, Hadji Muhtamad town.
He said they launched the seaborne patrol following receipt of report that dynamite fishing and selling of bomb-making components are rampant in Sangbay Big village.
The seaborne patrol was followed by a foot patrol in Sangbay Big village when they arrested the suspects while selling ammonium nitrate, a bomb-making component.
He said they have recovered from the suspects 28 sacks of ammonium nitrate, locally known as “mongos”, 3,050 pieces of improvised blasting cap, and 15 rolls of time fuse.
The police chief another ten sacks of ammonium nitrate and seven homemade dynamites hidden by the suspects in Sangbay Big village were also recovered following an information from a tipster.
Flores said the suspects were detained while charges for illegal possession of explosive will be filed against them. (SunStar Zamboanga)