NCRPO: Sympathizers made Mindanao, Metro Manila likely safe havens for terrorists

Mindanao and Metro Manila may provide safe havens for terrorists, the chief of the National Capital Region Police Office said on Monday.

Director Oscar Albayalde made the remark after police nabbed a suspected ISIS member and his Filipina partner in Manila over the weekend.

“Unang-una kasi dito sa Pilipinas, alam naman natin napakaraming sympathizers. We really don’t know kung bakit yung mga kapwa Pilipino natin, they sympathize [with] this terrorist group at alam nila na lalong lalo na sa Mindanao, it could be [a] safe haven for them,” Albayalde said in an ambush interview.

He said that terror group members had also been using several Muslim communities as safe havens.

“Pwede silang magtago do'n, dito sa Metro Manila. There are several, although hindi natin nilalahat. There are also several Muslim enclaves dito na pwede na ring magtago sa kanila, although hindi naman natin namo-monitor na nagtatago nga sa kanila,” Albayalde said.

“We’re not accusing our brother Muslims here pero napakadali kasi dito sa Metro Manila. It’s because sabi ko nga there are sympathizers dito. Hindi naman natin matanggal ‘yon,” he added.

Suspected ISIS leader and recruiter Fehmi Lassqued alias John Rasheed and his Filipina partner Anabel Moncera Salipada were arrested over the weekend at Room 409 of Casa Blanca apartment along M. Adriatico Street in Malate, Manila.

Lassqued and Salipada were presented to the media on Monday at Camp Crame.

A caliber 45 gun, ammunition and a magazine, and suspected bomb components including four pipes, three capacitors, three light-emitting diodes, two integrated circuits, three battery clips, four pieces of wire, and 11 resistors were recovered from the suspects.

Police also recovered two switches, four electronic devices, passports of the suspects as well as a black ISIS flag.

The Philippine National Police has already filed charges with the Department of Justice against Lassqued and Salipada for violation of Republic Act 9516 for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Lassqued has denied the allegations against him. —NB/JST, GMA News