The suspect is a member of the Abu Sayyaf Group who plotted but failed to bomb Metro Manila.
The operatives of the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) have arrested an alleged member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Barangay Culiat, Quezon City in Metro Manila.
The arrested man was identified by PNP CIDG Director Chief Supt. Roel Obusan as Mohammad Amin aka Aklam Amin.
The arrest of Amin was based on the warrant of arrest and search warrant issued by the court.
The PNP CIDG believes that they have deterred a planned attack of the Abu Sayyaf Group in Metro Manila.
Amin is an Indonesian bomb expert who is associated with the ASG. Confiscated from him is a fragmentation grenade, bullets, different identification cards and a cellphone.
From Amin’s rented room, the authorities confiscate cables and wires, including electronic gadgets.
PNP Anti-Transnational Crime Unit (PNP-ATCU) Chef Police Chief Insp. Roque Merdeguia said that what they worry the most is their confiscation of a blueprint of a condomall in Quezon City in the possession of Amin.
According to Merdeguia, it can never be taken for granted that someone like Amin, who is not an architect or an engineer but rather a bomb expert, to have in possession a blueprint or a structural plan of a building.
The PNP ATCU looks into a possiblity that Amin is studying every corner of the establishment for a bomb plot.
Also arrested by the authorities was Amin’s fellow, Adnan Malangkis alias “Abdul” who is a native of Tipo Tipo, Basilan and also the owner of the room that they rent, Bilal Taalam.
Charges on Illegal Possession of Explosives and Ammunition were filed against Amin and Malangkis while Taalam faces charges on Harboring of Fugitive and Wanted Person.
Amin is included in the list of wanted persons of the Department of National Defense (DND) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and has a bounty of P600,000 because of Kidnapping with Frustrated Murder cases in Jolo, Sulu.