Local terror group leader nabbed in Sultan Kudarat

MANILA, Philippines - Police have arrested an alleged leader of a terrorist group believed to be responsible for the series of deadly bombings in Central Mindanao in the past seven years.

Chief Superintendent Abelardo Villacorta, director of the Philippine National Police-Intelligence Group, identified the suspect as Jabide Abdul, alleged senior leader of the Al-Khobar Group operating in Mindanao.

Villacorta said joint members of the Task Force Sanglahi-Alpha composed of operatives from the Regional Intelligence Unit-12 of the Philippine National Police-Intelligence Group and Special Project Mindanao Khilafa Islamiya and the Regional Public Safety Battalion-12 nabbed the suspect at around 2 p.m. Tuesday in Barangay Titulok, Bagumbayan in Sultan Kudarat.

Villacorta said Abdul is the subject of separate warrants of arrest issued by the Kidapawan City Regional Trial Court Branch 17, Kabacan Regional Trial Court Branch 16 in Cotabato and Digos City Regional Trial Court Branch 19 for the crimes of multiple murder, multiple frustrated murder, multiple attempted murder and destruction of property.

Police said Abdul has a P3.3 million bounty on his head.

Police said Abdul responsible for the spate of bombings from the Oct. 10, 2006 in Makilala, North Cotabato during the town's founding anniversary celebration to the  May 22, 2009 bombing in Kidapawan City, which left nine persons wounded.

Villacorta said the Al-Khobar Goup continues its extortion and bombing operations, targeting local bus companies as well as National Grid Corp. of the Philippines' transmission lines in North Cotabato.

Al-Khobar targets businesses and even local governments in the central Mindanao region.

Explaining the modus operandi of the group, Villacorta said its member would call the target before the attack and demand "protection money." If the potential victim refuses to pay, the bombing attack would be carried out.