SECURITY troops on Thursday captured a terror suspect wanted for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of three foreigners and a Filipina in Samal Island in Davao del Norte in 2015 during a counter-terror operation in Quiapo, Manila, Philippine National Police chief, General Debold M. Sinas announced yesterday.
Sinas identified the arrested suspect as Jehan Aklul alias’ Khalid Akhalul/Abu Khalid.’ He added that the wanted terrorist was arrested 1:50 a.m. Thursday inside his rented unit on Carlos Palanca Street in Bgy. 648, San Miguel, Manila.
Members of the PNP Intelligence Group under Colonel Warren F. de Leon and the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) headed by Major Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. spearheaded the intelligence-driven operation triggered by tips from several sources, Sinas said.
According to the PNP chief, the suspect was arrested on the strength of a warrant of arrest for kidnapping with homicide issued by the Panabo City Regional Trial Court Branch 34.
Sinas said a companion of Aklul identified as Mohammad Amara Muslimin,30, was arrested during a counter-terror raid which led to the seizure of two hand grenades, detonating cord and a blasting cap.
Sinas said Aklul is wanted for the kidnapping of Canadian nationals John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, Norwegian Khartan Sekkingstad ad their Filipina companion identified only as ‘Tess’ in Samal Island on September 21, 2015.
The victims were transferred by the kidnappers to Sulu from Samal Island. During negotiations, the gunmen beheaded the two Canadians following their failure to get their ransom demand.
The Norwegian and the Filipina captives were released in 2017.
Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office 12 and Armed Forces operatives stepped up their manhunt for a member of the Dawlah Islamiyah terror group and two of his cohorts wanted for murder charges in Polomolok, South Cotabato, PRO12 director, Brigadier General Michael John F. Dubria announced yesterday.
In a report to Sinas, Dubria identified one of the suspects as Tho Bansil Catucan, an active member of the SIS-inspired Dawlah Islamiyah Soccsksargen Katiba operating in Central Mindanao.
Dubria said members of the Polomolok and Tupi Municipal Police Stations, the South Cotabato Police Provincial Office and the Army’s 5thSpecial Forces Battalion tried to arrest the suspect in his hiding place in Bgy. Sumbakil 3 p.m. Sunday.
Catucan is the subject of two standing warrants of arrest for the murder issued Judge Adelbert Santillan of the Polomolok Regional Trial Court Branch 63 in 2018 and 2019, the official said.
Dubria said that during the operation, Catucan and his two companions engaged officers in a firefight before fleeing.
One of the policemen’s guides identified as Leonardo Gatinao Jr. died in the clash while another named Aldrin Palma was wounded and is now recovering in a local hospital.
