Terror suspect arrested in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A suspected member of the Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM), who was hiding for almost six years, has surrendered to the military in this city. 

Rommel Aguirre, alias Qaim Asadulla, turned himself in at the Joint Task Force Zamboanga last week to clear his name, according to Col. Antonio John Divinagracia, task force commander.

Divinagracia and National Bureau of Investigation regional director Moises Tamayo presented Aguirre during a press briefing yesterday.

The RSM, which was founded by Akmad Santos, was linked to the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah. The group reportedly aided Abu Sayyaf bandits in the SuperFerry 14 bombing in 2004 and Valentine’s Day bombing in 2005.

Santos was arrested in 2006. 

Divinagracia said Aguirre arrived in Quezon City on Sept. 30, 2014 and rented a room with two other RSM  members – Ricardo Ayeras, alias Abdul Karim, and Andresio Valdez, alias Sabri Sindayen Abubakar – in Barangay San Antonio, San Francisco del Monte. 

Ayeras and Valdez were arrested for allegedly plotting to blow up an establishment in Makati in October of the same year. Aguirre managed to escape.