A report in the Philippine Daily Inquirer cited a report to officials including Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. indicating Filipinos are among the Southeast Asians being lured to conflict zones in the Middle East. Some Islamic militants are home-grown, just like the Abu Sayyaf (in photo), who have links with al-Qaeda terrorists. (Photo from http://vkb.isvg.org/Wiki/Groups/Abu_Sayyaf_Group_(ASG))
ZAMBOANGA (Mabuhay) – The Sulu provincial police office believes the twin explosion near their headquarters on Friday evening was a retaliatory attack from the Abu Sayyaf Group.
Sr. Supt. Abraham Orbita, provincial director of Sulu police, noted that before the explosions, they had arrested several members of Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.
He said on May 25, police nabbed Alvin Jumaidi, 25, an alleged follower of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Arod Wahing operating in Talipao, Sulu.
Recovered from Jumaidi, a native of Barangay Anuling, Patikul municipality, Sulu, was an unregistered .45-caliber pistol.
Jumaidi’s father, also an Abu Sayyaf member, was also arrested in Zamboanga City following a foiled jailbreak in Zamboanga City Reformatory Center.
On May 20, a suspected Abu Sayyaf bandit identified as Mindas Manda alias “Muktaderas” was killed in a shootout with police in Barangay Walled City, Jolo, Sulu.
Manda was accosted by policemen after he was sighted carrying an M-16 rifle. He was asked to surrender but allegedly drew his firearm against the responding policemen.
On May 6, five suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group were also killed in a shootout after they attempted to abduct a businesswoman in Siasi town.
The family of the businesswoman fought back and engaged the Abu Sayyaf in a sea gunbattle, resulting in the death of five suspected bandits.
According to Orbita, they have been receiving intelligence information that the Abu Sayyaf Group is planning to attack any police station in Sulu to avenge the death and arrest of their comrades.
Jolo Mayor Hussin Amin also believes that the target of Friday’s attack was the police camp.
Amin ordered the police to further strengthen the security in Jolo and increase their visibility to ease the worry of their constituents.
Based on the list of Sulu police, 17 people were wounded in the twin explosion, three of whom are minors with ages ranging from 7 to 12 years old.
At least 10 of the victims were policemen, including personnel from the Special Action Force and a police official identified as Sr. Inps. Jeremy Dogao, 27.
Seven of the wounded victims were brought to Zamboanga City for further medical attention while the others who sustained minor injuries have been discharged from the Sulu hospital.
Police said there were witnesses who saw the suspects who hurled the grenade in the area. They are now in the process of collecting their testimonies for the possible identification of the suspects.
Orbita said the improvised explosive device that was planted near the police headquarters used a cellphone as a remote detonator. It was designed purposely to hurt or kill the responding policemen.
The first grenade explosion was just part of the strategy of the Abu Sayyaf Group to draw the attention of policemen, Orbita said. (MNS)