A WANTED bomber in Mindanao was captured by agents of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) in an operation in Ampatuan, Maguindanao on Wednesday, PNP chief, General Debold M. Sinas said yesterday.

Suspect Norton Sapitula alias ‘Jihad Salipada Sabttula’ was arrested on the strength of a warrant for three counts of murder with multiple frustrated murder issued by Judge Lorenzo Balo of the Isulan, Sultan Kudarat Regional Trial Court Branch 12 on November 23, 2018, the top cop said.

Sinas said the arrested suspect is the 5th most wanted man in Central Mindanao and has long being hunted by the Police Regional Office (PRO) 12 and the PNP-SAF under Major Gen. Bernabe M. Balba.

On Wednesday, members of the PRO12, PNP Intelligence Group and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, PNP-SAF and the Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao Police Provincial Offices joined hands in going after the suspect in his hiding place in Poblacion Ampatuan forcing him to surrender without any fight, said PRO12 director, Brigadier Gen. Michael John F. Dubria.

The captured suspect was identified as a member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF)-Karialan Faction.

The suspect is wanted for his role in the August 28, 2018, bombing in Bgy. Kalawag 3 in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat which killed three people and injured 36 others and another bomb attack in nearby Bgy. Kalawag 2 on September 2 of the same year which left two people dead and 14 others wounded.

He was initially booked at the Ampatuan police station before being turned over to the Isulan police for proper disposition.

“The arrest of Sapitula is another setback for the BIFF operating in Maguindanao area and nearby provinces. Moreover, this successful operation would likely affect the planned attacks of Local and Foreign Terrorist Organizations,” Sinas said as he commended the operating troops responsible for the neutralization of the elusive suspect.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon