COTABATO CITY -- The recent arrest here of one of the suspects in the Sept. 2, 2016 bombing in Davao City has prevented an Islamic State-linked terror group from carrying out a bombing plot to disrupt Monday’s scheduled plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in the city, police said.
Citing intelligence information, Chief Supt. Eliseo Tam Rasco, Police Regional Office 12 (Soccsksargen) director, said the remaining members of the terror Ansar Al-Kilafa Philippines (AKP), had plotted to set off improvised bombs in areas where the plebiscite will take place as part of group’s sabotage operation.
Rasco announced the arrest on January 15 of Abubakar “Jing” Pagayao in Barangay Bagua, this city, during a news conference here Friday.
He said Pagayao has a standing warrant of arrest under the Department of National Defense Arrest Order No. 2 after Mindanao was placed under martial law in May 2017 following the Marawi siege.
“We have preempted terror plots by AKP with the arrest of Pagayao,” Rasco told reporters here.
He said more than 5,000 police personnel have been deployed to Cotabato City to ensure a peaceful and orderly plebiscite on Monday and in North Cotabato’s five towns on February 6. (PNA)
Bombing suspect’s arrest averts terror plot: Cops
By Edwin Fernandez
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