Suspect in deadly Basilan blast nabbed

Police have arrested a suspect allegedly linked to the bomb explosion in Lamitan, Basilan on Tuesday which resulted in the deaths of 10 people, including the alleged suicide bomber.

According to a report on GMA News TV Live on Thursday, Indalin Jainul alias Ustadz Abdulgani has been turned over to the Basilan Provincial Police.

Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Besana, spokesperson of the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command, said the suspect is a 58-year-old cleric, who — according to military informants — had been helping foreign operatives reach Basilan from Malaysia.

The military said there were reports saying Jainul had also been assisting the Abu Sayyaf group notorious for kidnapping and banditry in Basilan.

A grenade was reportedly seized from the suspect, but authorities have yet to find evidence linking him directly to the deadly van blast.

Besana said the suspect was nabbed by elements of the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion a few hours after the explosion.

"He is actually one of the persons of interest so troops from the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion went to his barangay after the explosion, around 11 or 12 noon. He reportedly has possible links or probably facilitated the launching of the bombing," Besana said.

The military has also identified the owner of the vehicle involved in the incident.

Calling it a suicide attack, militant group Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the incident where a soldier, five paramilitary troopers and four civilians, including a mother and her child, were killed, and seven people were wounded. — Margaret Claire Layug with Reuters/MDM/RSJ, GMA News