AN ALLEGED Abu Sayyaf explosive expert who was involved in the Batasan bombing 12 years ago was arrested in an intelligence-driven law enforcement operation in Zamboanga City, a top police official said Friday, June 19.
Police Brigadier General Jesus Cambay Jr., Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula director, identified the arrested suspect as Kahar Indama, cousin of Basilan-based bandit leader Furuji Indama.
Cambay said Indama was arrested in a law enforcement operation around 10 p.m. Thursday, June 18, in his residence in Sangali village, Zamboanga City.
Cambay said Indama has a standing warrant of arrest for violation of Republic Act 10591, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, issued by a local court.
Cambay said recovered from Indama were one blasting cap, a detonating cord, a bottle of soft drinks filled with assorted marbles, a plastic bottle filled with assorted common nails, complete set of triggering device, and a caliber .38 revolver with three ammunition.
He said Indama was involved in the November 13, 2007 bombing that killed then Basilan congressman Wahab Akbar and injured seven others, two of whom are legislators, at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City.
He said the arrested suspect was also involved in the ambush of government troops sometime in 2007 that resulted in the death of seven militiamen and one member of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team and injured three soldiers and a militia.
Indama denied that he is a member of the Abu Sayyaf Group and claimed to be electrician by profession.
Indama said he ventured into buy and sell of fish due to the community quarantine amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. (SunStar Zamboanga)