5 Abu Sayyaf bandits nabbed, bomb materials seized

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Government troopers arrested four Abu Sayyaf bandits and recovered bomb components during a raid on a village in this city yesterday. 

Maj. Helen Galvez, Zamboanga peninsula police spokesperson, said Aljiver Habibula, 35; Omar Julaspih, 22; Rody Marail, 36, and Nash Amik, 32, all natives of Sulu, were collared in Barangay Baliwasan at about 3 a.m.  

Galvez said blasting caps, a length of a detonating cord, ammonium nitrate, fuel oil, a cell phone, ammunition, electric wires of various colors and nails were among those recovered at the scene. 

“Our intelligence personnel said the suspects were not trained bombers... The bombs could just be sent to them for shipment,” she said. 

In Zamboanga Sibugay, police said Nasirin Balajadji was arrested in Barangay Canacan, Naga on Wednesday.

Balajadji was tagged in the kidnapping of Jordanian journalist Baker Atyani in 2012 and retired Italian priest Roland del Torchio in 2015. – Emmanuel Tupas