GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The police has widened its intelligence and security operations against the suspected cohorts of an alleged Indonesian “bomb-maker” who was arrested last month in Palimbang town in Sultan Kudarat province.
In a press conference on Monday afternoon, Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales, Police Regional Office 12 (Soccsksargen) director, said they have identified several personalities who had reportedly assisted the suspect, Mushalah Somina Rasim alias Abu Omar, in his movements in parts of the region.
Morales said joint operatives over the weekend were able to track the alleged safe house used by the Indonesian at the Doña Soledad subdivision in Barangay Labangal here, where they found an improvised explosive device and various bomb-making materials.
The safe house was discovered based on intelligence operations conducted by the PRO-12, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other law enforcement agencies, he said.
"He (Mushalah) stayed there for several days upon arriving from Balut Island," Morales said.
Balut, which is part of Sarangani town in Davao Occidental, is close to Indonesia's Sangihe islands and a traditional "backdoor route" for Indonesians entering the Philippines.
Morales said the 32-year-old Mushalah, who was allegedly involved in suicide bombing activities in Indonesia, later transferred to Barangay Colobe in Palimbang, where he was arrested last March 10.
The suspect, who is now in the custody of the Bureau of Immigration, reportedly joined the remnants of the local terror group Ansar Khilafah Philippines, led by Abu Mahe in conducting recruitment activities in parts of Palimbang and nearby Maitum town in Sarangani.
Morales said the improvised explosive was "intentionally" hidden under a pile of sacks filled with charcoal, inside the safe house.
It appears that the suspects used charcoal, which absorbs odor or scent, to prevent the detection of the explosive by K-9 units, he said.
However, he noted that operatives of the explosives ordnance disposal (EOD) unit found the piled charcoal-filled sacks suspicious and eventually found the explosive, which reportedly has the capacity to inflict "massive casualties."
The police official said they have launched a follow-up against several personalities who had rented and maintained the safe house.
He declined to identify any of the suspects due to the ongoing operations but acknowledged that they are linked to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
"We found some receipts at the safe house and traced their time and date. We were able to identify one based on CCTV (closed-circuit television) footages (from an establishment)," he said.
Morales said police units in the region remain on high alert and have maximized personnel deployment in various strategic areas.
He said they are evaluating and assessing the need for additional deployment of police units to some areas in the region.
PRO-12 has operational jurisdiction over the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.
"We are working on the realignment of some personnel as we want to maximize them for our security patrols. Every personnel should count and we don't want them confined to their desks," Morales added. (PNA)
