CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao -- Government forces and its ally, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), arrested Tuesday a bomber of ISIS-inspired local jihadists in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao.
Senior Supt. Agustin Tello, Maguindanao police director, identified the suspect as Mahdi Abdulla, 27, of Barangay Pagatin, Datu Salibo.
Abdulla is believed to be a member of outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) special operations group responsible in setting off explosives against soldiers and MILF members.
Government forces acted on intelligence information provided by the MILF and local residents who have gone tired of BIFF atrocities to capture the suspect.
Capt. John Arvin Encinas, Army’s 6th Infantry Division spokesman, said Abdulla was collared at the vicinity of a floating restaurant establishment in Barangay Sambolawan.
He did not resist arrest.
Tello said Abdullah, also known as “Rok,” was a bomb expert and believed to be one of the students of slain Malaysian bomb expert Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan.
Abdullah was tagged by military and police intelligence operatives as member of the BIFF hit squad, targeting off duty soldiers along Maguindanao highways.
Tello said the 5 p.m. joint police, Army and MILF operation led to the recovery of a fragmentation grenade, illegal drugs and bomb making components from Abdullah’s house.
Abdullah was turned over to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for the filing of appropriate charges. (PNA)
