Suspected Abu Sayyaf bomber nabbed in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY - A suspected Abu Sayyaf bomber was captured and bomb components were recovered from him by raiding policemen in an island off this city on Monday afternoon.

Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, spokesman of of the city police office, said the suspect identified as Abdulhalik Mohammad Ajibon alias Alex Ajibon, 50, tagged to be linked with the Abu Sayyaf group of Basilan province, was captured around 4 p.m. from his hideout in Tictabon, an islet off Sacol Island.

Huesca said combined elements of the Western Mindanao Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, Regional Intelligence Division 9, and combat police force of the Zamboanga City Public Safety Company carried out the raid with the strength of a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Gregorio dela Peña.

He said the raiding team served the search warrant against Ajibon for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and explosive.

Police operatives recovered from Ajibon's possession several pieces of blasting caps, a primary component for an improvised bomb and wirings.

The arrest of the suspect came as the police and military intensified the hunt against members of the Abu Sayyaf following the foiled bombing during the Fiesta Pilar.

The bombing was thwarted with the arrest of a suspected female bomber, who was supposed to deliver improvised bombs intended for a Catholic shrine and a public plaza in the city's downtown area.

Huesca said police were also tracking down the male companion of the lady Abu Sayyaf member.