The seized shabu worth P238,000. Photo courtesy of Batangas PPO
Gov’t troops, PAOCC foil Zambo ‘bombing’ plot
ASG member nabbed
SECURITY troops led by commandos from the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) on Friday foiled a purported Abu Sayyaf bombing plot in Zamboanga City with the arrest of one of its members tasked to carry out the terror plan, a report to PNP Chief General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr said.
PNP-SAF Director Major Gen. Edgar Alan O. Okubo said they arrested an Abu Sayaff Group (ASG) member with an alias “Omar” during the counter-terror operation in Sitio Sapa Dulian in Barangay Kalabasa, Zamboanga City, around 5:10 a.m. Friday.
The PNP-SAF commander said that recovered from the possession of the suspect were one tin container and a leather bag found containing one-time fuse, a detonating cord, a blasting cap, a tin can containing a suspected improvised explode device (IED) mixed with scrap metals and a concrete nail, an improvised mechanical time fuse, one 9-volt battery, and eight pieces of 7.6mm ammunition link.
Members of the SAF’s 84th, 85th, and 55th Special Action Companies (SACs) launched the operation together with officers from the Zamboanga City Police Office, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), and the Army’s 74th Infantry Battalion (IB).
The official said that support provided by the PAOCC under Executive Director Gilbert DC Cruz and the Zamboanga City Police force headed by Col. Alexander Lorenzo enabled them to catch the suspect on time.
Okubo said that the early dawn raid particularly targeted a group of Abu Sayyaf terrorists led by one “Jomar,” who were monitored to have arrived in the city to carry out a bombing plot.
“(‘Jomar’) and other members of the group managed to escape, but (‘Omar’), who was found carrying the IED materials, was captured during the operation,” the PNP-SAF director said.
According to PAOCC’s Cruz, they have monitored a plan by the Abu Sayyaf Group to detonate a bomb in the city to create a diversion as their other members try to rescue two high-profile ASG inmates who are currently serving their prison term at the San Ramon Penal Colony.
The foiled Abu Sayyaf plot triggered an increased security alert in the prison colony as well as other “soft targets” in the city and other parts of Western Mindanao, including bus terminals, airports, seaports, churches, public markets, and shopping malls.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 9 Director Brigadier Gen. Neil B. Alinsangan said they are not keeping their guards down and are ensuring that all security measures are in place to thwart any terror plot in the region.
