Abu Sayyaf leader Mundi Sawadjaan's 'assistant' nabbed in Zamboanga —police

Police on Sunday arrested the alleged assistant of Abu Sayyaf leader Mundi Sawadjaan in Zamboanga City, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan announced on Monday.

At a press briefing in Camp Crame, Cascolan identified the suspect as Hashim Saripada, also known as Ibnu Kashir Saripada. He was arrested by operatives of the Regional Intelligence Unit - IX and the 84th Special Action Company (Seaborne) at Barangay Recodo.

Cascolan said Saripada's arrest is a huge blow on the part of Sawadjaan, who is believed to be behind the bombings in Sulu province, as Saripada was helping him in his strategies in launching attacks.

"Saripada is the assistant, cohort of Mundi Sawadjaan. This will be a very, very big blow on him because nawalan siya ng isang pinagkakatiwalaan and this one is actually his assistant, so karamihan ng kaniyang mga activities ngayon, hindi na matutuloy. He knows na mino-monitor na siya ng lahat ng intelligence and anti-terrorism units," Cascolan said, referring to Sawadjaan.

"He assists him in all operations, gumagawa ng mga IEDs (improvised explosive device), at lahat ng mga strategies niya naka-based din kay Saripada," he added.

Cascolan said Saripada was the subject of a warrant of arrest issued by Honorable Danilo Bucoy of the Regional Trial Court Branch 2 of Isabela, Basilan for the crimes of multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder.

According to the PNP chief, Saripada and Sawadjaan prepared the IED used by the Indonesian couple at the Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu in January 2019.

Cascolan further said Saripada had a role in July 31, 2018 bombing of a CAFGU detachment at Sitio Magkawit, Barangay Maganda in Lamitan Basilan. The incident, which killed 11 individuals, was carried out by a Moroccan bomber identified as Abu Kathir Al-Maghirbi.

Authorities were able to confiscate a hand grenade and other materials for making IEDs during Saripada's arrest.

Police said the suspect was being monitored for a long time but they did not provide more details on how did they monitor Saripada's activities. —KBK, GMA News