Troops foil Abus' bomb plot in Zambo

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (September 24, 2017) - Government forces thwarted Abu Sayyaf members under top leader Furuji Indama from bombing the City of Zamboanga, military official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) information officer Cpt. Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that the combined forces of the Joint Task Force Zamboanga and the Zamboanga City Police Office launched a counter action against the group of Abu Sayyaf members Omar Askali, a.k.a. Ayub. The joint AFP-PNP Law Enforce Operation was conducted at Governor Lim Avenue in this city at around 10:30am Saturday (September 23).

"Intelligence reports revealed that the group will bomb public places in the city three days from now. This prompted our troops to conduct a joint operation with the police to capture the bandits and preempt their bomb ploy," said Colonel Leonel Nicolas, commander of the JTF Zamboanga.

Cpt Petinglay said that recovered from Askali were a hand grenade, a cellular phone, and two identification cards. Askali is a trusted follower of Indama. He is trained in manufacturing Improvised Explosive Devices.

Further information disclosed that Mukaram Sapie, a.k.a. Mukram, and Shayif were sent by Indama to conduct bombing, she added.

In a follow-up operation, government forces also nabbed Mukram in Barangay Taluksangay on the same day. Recovered from Mukram was an IED and a Caliber .45 pistol. The area was still being searched for another IED since information from @Ayub revealed that Mukram was keeping two IEDs.

"Our successful offensives were complemented by the intensified conduct of intelligence operations and the strengthened collaboration with the police, thus preempting the bandits fron executing their terror plan. I commend the troops of the JTF Zamboanga for a job well done," said Lieutenant General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command.

Follow-up operations are still ongoing.