(Eagle News) — Three men who police said plotted to attack Metro Manila during the recently concluded Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit were arrested by authorities in Quezon City, the police said on Friday.
Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa said suspects Abdulgaffar Jikiri alias Abu Bakar Jikiri, 19; Alim Sabtalin, 19; and Sadam Jhofar, 24; were apprehended by joint Quezon City Police District and National Bureau of Investigation-counter-terrorism division elements in Salam Compound, Culiat, on Nov. 10, at 5:15 p.m.
Dela Rosa said the three were members of the Abu Sayyaf Group that has pledged allegiance to the international terrorist group Islamic State.
According to Dela Rosa, the arrest of the three was made possible by intelligence units working hand in hand with local communities.
He said authorities began monitoring Jikiri after he posted pictures of his plot to attack Metro Manila.
He said these pictures included high-powered firearms, with a caption that said they would be used to kill non-believers and Muslim apostates; their targets that included parks in Manila and the Philippine International Convention Center, the ASEAN Summit venu; and himself and other members of the armed group.
“(Authorities) immediately conducted a background investigation on Jikiri and found he is part of the Basilan-based ASG..,” Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa said based on information they received, Jikiri left Basilan for Manila via Zamboanga City on Oct. 9.
Sabtalin and Jhofar, who left for Manila earlier, were found to have met Jikiri after his arrival.
“Police tracked down the two and (they were led) to the Salam compound, where the three were arrested through Muslim community leaders,” Dela Rosa said.
He said recovered from Jikiri was a .45 .cal US Army pistol with four live ammunition, two 22 mm. grenades, six cellphones, among others.
Among those recovered from Sabtalin was a 9 mm. pistol.
Authorities recovered a .45 cal. M19 pistol with three live ammunition from Jhofar, among others.
Dela Rosa said the three have been charged for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and for violation of the gun ban implemented for the ASEAN Summit.
Jikiri was also charged for illegal possession of explosives, Dela Rosa said.
“The arrest of the three suspects was part of the continuing effort (of authorities) against terrorist groups and (their) anti-criminality campaign,” Dela Rosa said.
