Philippines: Terrorists Arrested, Bomb Attacks Foiled

By Hader GlangZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (AA) -- Philippine authorities presented to the media Friday, three Daesh-linked Abu Sayyaf militants who were planning a series of bomb attacks in Manila. The terrorists allegedly wanted to divert attention from the recent Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.Philippine National Police chief, Director General Ronald dela Rosa, identified the suspects as Abdulgaffar Jikiri, Alim Sabtalin and Sadam Jhofar, at PNP's National Headquarters, Camp General Rafael Crame, Quezon City, Metro Manila. They are believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf Urban Terrorist Group. Dela Rosa told reporters the suspects were simultaneously arrested on Nov. 10, in their residence at the Salaam Compound in Barangay (village) Culiat, Quezon City, by joint personnel of Quezon City Police District-Special Operations Unit, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Counter Terrorism Division.Firearms, ammunition and grenades were seized when they were arrested. World leaders from the Asia Pacific, including U.S. President Donald Trump, were in the Philippines by Nov. 12.The suspects conducted surveillance and ocular inspection at malls to carry out bomb attacks during the 31st Asean Summit and Asean Related Summits in the Philippines.Dela Rosa said charges for violation of section 28 (unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition) of RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) in relation to 15 days gun ban period for ASEAN Summit 2017 and RA 9516 (Illegal Possession of Explosives) have been filed against the suspects."They were captured because of our security operations for the ASEAN. It so happened that they arrived here prior to ASEAN. Would you attack ASEAN after the ASEAN is over?" Dela Rosa was "ed as saying."It should be for the whole day of ASEAN if they were indeed plotting. That's why they were monitored," he added.Dela Rosa said police did not immediately announce the arrest of the trio to avoid causing "unnecessary anxiety" to the public. -