ARRESTED. Government troops arrest Hashim Saripada, an Abu Sayyaf planner and supervisor of bomb attacks, during a law enforcement operation on Sunday (Sept. 27, 2020) in Zamboanga City. Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, said Saripada was involved in previous bombings in Basilan and Sulu provinces. (Photo courtesy of the Western Mindanao Command Public Information Office)
ZAMBOANGA CITY--Authorities said they have foiled a possible bomb attack after arresting an alleged bomber of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in an intelligence-driven law enforcement operation in this southern port city, a top military official announced Monday.
Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, identified the arrested ASG bomber as Hashim Saripada, who was involved in previous bombings in Basilan and Sulu provinces.
Vinluan said Saripada was arrested through an arrest warrant Sunday in Barangay Recodo here.
Saripada has two standing warrants of arrest for the crimes of multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder issued by the court of Basilan province.
Recovered from Saripada’s possession were a gallon of ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO), nine pieces of blasting caps, five meters detonating cord, one fragmentation grenade, and a backpack, Vinluan said.
In late August, Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar cited an intelligence report warning of an impending bomb attack by Abu Sayyaf suicide bombers.
Salazar said the three suicide bombers include two Indonesians--a male and a female--and a Filipino.
Vinluan said that Saripada is a follower of Abu Sayyaf leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan.
Sariparada joined the ASG in 2002 where he served as a financial and personnel facilitator, including foreign terrorist fighters, in Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, and Sulu, he added.
In addition, Vinluan said Saripada was involved “as the planner and supervisor” in the July 31, 2018 bombing of a military detachment in Lamitan City, Basilan, and in the January 27, 2019 church bombing in Jolo, Sulu.
The July 31 bombing in Lamitan City resulted in the death of 10 people, including a soldier and five militiamen. The other four fatalities are relatives of the militiamen.
Seven others--five soldiers and two militiamen--were wounded during the incident.
On the other hand, 20 people, including five soldiers and a coast guard personnel were killed, while 102 others were wounded when two bombs exploded inside the Mount Carmel Cathedral on January 27, 2019 in Jolo, Sulu.
“Congratulations to the troops of the PNP SAF (Philippine National Police-Special Action Force) for a job well done,” Vinluan said, adding that Saripada's arrest will "debilitate the ASG particularly in the planning and execution of their bomb ploys." (PNA)
