Another Sayyaf ‘bomber’ nabbed

ZAMBOANGA CITY — A third suspect linked to a string of terrorists bombings in the city was arrested late last week during a raid in a coastal barangay here.

After raiding a safehouse in Barangay Rio Hondo, military intelligence agents whisked a certain Sali to their headquarters for tactical interrogation.

Military investigators are trying to determine if Sali was involved in last October’s series of bombings of shopping centers and near an eatery that killed an American Green Beret and 11 Filipino civilians, and wounded more than 200 others.

Last Thursday, police arrested a man and his son, who are believed to be behind the bombings, during a dawn raid on a house in Barangay Manicahan in the city’s eastern coast.

Chief Inspector Jess Belarga, a Zamboanga City police intelligence officer, said Ahmad Jama and his son, Tinkih, who insist they are seaweed farmers, were arrested at around 5:30 a.m. on suspicion of being terrorists belonging to the Abu Sayyaf.

"We are still investigating the case and we still have follow-up operations which can be compromised if we release details now," he said.

"We believe there are still other companions of the suspects who are at large after they managed to escape during the raid."

It was not clear if the father and son were involved in the Oct. 2 blast that killed an American soldier on a training mission in Zamboanga City, he added.

The capture of the suspects has brought to seven the number of people in police custody who are linked to the series of bombings in the city.

Police has also charged in court Abu Sayyaf leaders Khaddafi Janjalani, Jainal Sali alias Abu Solaiman and Radulan Sahiron.

Lt. Gen. Narciso Abaya, Armed Forces Southern Command chief, said he has ordered troops to continue hunting down the Abu Sayyaf during the holidays.–Roel Pareño