Authorities foil plan to stage attacks during ASEAN summit

Authorities have foiled a plan for an attack in Metro Manila to divert attention from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit, with the arrest of three suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group  in Quezon City last week.

Police identified the suspects as Abdulgaffar Jikiri alias Abu Bakar Jikiri, 19, of No.5 Al-Salaam St., 504-G Salaam Compound Barangay Culiat; Sadam Jhofar, 24; and Alim Sabtalin, 19, both of 504-G, Salaam Compound, Brgy. Culiat.

All the three are from Basilan.

Jikiri left Basilan on October 9 while the other two were already in Metro Manila since August.

They were nabbed 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.

Law enforcers received information that Jikiri had been planning to attack malls, Quezon Memorial Circle, and other vital installations in Metro Manila.

Jikiri also posted on his Facebook account hints of his plan, including pictures of high-powered firearms and improvised explosive device, which will be used against kaffir (non-believers) and munafiq (Muslim apostates).

The suspects were simultaneously arrested at about 5:15 p.m. on November 10, in their residence at the Salaam Compound.

Seized from Jikiri were cal. 45, m1911 US Army, a magazine with four live ammunition, two M203 Rifle grenades, and six cellular phones.

Recovered from Sabtalin were a caliber 9mm with four live ammunition and a cellular phone, while Jhofar yielded caliber 45 colt M1911, with three live ammunition and a black sling bag.

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. —LBG, GMA News