Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents disclosed that the suspected Abu Sayyaf Group member arrested on Tuesday, possibly held an assumed identity.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente disclosed that Omar Bin Harun, 52, who was intercepted last May 10 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 after arriving via a Philippine Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur, presented a Malaysian passport that authorities suspect to have been fraudulently-acquired.
“While his passport seems to be genuine, we believe he might have procured it through illegal means or by misrepresentation,” said Morente.
According to the BI, intelligence sources reveal that Omar, a Filipino national, is reportedly a member of the ASG and was involved in the 2001 Lamitan Siege that took over a church and a hospital, and held priests, medical staff, and patients as their hostage.
BI-NAIA Anti-Terrorist Group (ATG) Chief Bienvenido Castillo III, shared that they received intelligence information about Omar’s arrival last week, and have coordinated with other law enforcement agencies to effect his arrest.
“Omar was also said to have links with the terrorist group ISIS,” said Castillo. “We were informed then that there was also a warrant for his arrest from the Philippine National Police Southern Police District,” he added.
Suspected Abu Sayyaf member arrested in NAIA
Castillo bared that Omar was turned over to the PNP who implemented his arrest.
Morente thanked other law enforcement agencies for the cooperation which led to the successful arrest of Omar. “Coordination amongst law enforcement agencies, both here and abroad, is necessary to curb terrorist activities that attempt to destroy the peace and order in our country. We will remain vigilant to ensure that these criminals are brought to justice,” he added.
The Abu Sayyaf Group has been involved in illegal acts such as rape, child sexual assault, forced marriage, drive-by shootings, and drug trafficking since its founding in 1989. The goals of the group “appear to have alternated over time between criminal objectives and a more ideological intent.”
Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States have all labeled Abu Sayyaf as a terrorist organization.
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