Bomb maker nabbed in Maguindanao

MANILA, Philippines - Joint elements of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (ARMM-CIDG) and intelligence operatives of the Philippine Army arrested Monday afternoon a reported ranking member of the Special Operations Group of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (SOG-BIAF-MILF) in Ma­guindanao.

A report reaching Camp Crame said Hadji Abdul Maguid, alias Samir Abdul Majid, was arrested in Pagatin, Salibo, Maguindanao at about 1:45 p.m.

Maguid, police said, is facing several warrants of arrest issued by Judge Jaime Infante of the Sarangani Regional Trial Court Branch 30. Maguid is facing charges for several counts of murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder.

According to police, Maguid, a member of the MILF-SOG’s 105th Base Command, is also a bomb-making instructor for the MILF-SOG. He is also reported to be a senior associate of Abdulbasit Usman, who operates in Maguindanao.

Long wanted by US authorities, Usman, a bomb-maker with links to the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Jemaah Islamiyah, was reportedly killed in an attack by an American drone aircraft on Jan. 14 in an area that borders Afghanistan and Pakistan. The drone attack had targeted Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud.

The US State Department had earlier offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Usman’s capture.