Palace confirms 2 Jemaah Islamiyah members killed in Mindanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 26): Palace confirms 2 Jemaah Islamiyah members killed in Mindanao

Malacanang confirmed Saturday the killing of two terrorists who are alleged members of the Asian terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). “We are confirming that Philippine authorities have successfully neutralized two foreign terrorists. Pareho silang miyembro umano ng Jemaah Islamiyah,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview Saturday over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

In November last year, Philippine authorities tracked down Ibnu Gholib Al-Jitli or Ustadz Sanusi in Marawi City, an Indonesian who is suspected to be a senior member of JI.  Sanusi died in a firefight when security forces tried to arrest him, Valte said.

During the investigation, the police recovered electronic devices and large amounts of currency from Sanusi. Prior to Sanusi’s arrival in the Philippines in 2006, he was tagged as one of those involved in the 2005 beheading of three schoolgirls in Poso, Sulawesi, Indonesia, Valte said.

Also, Noor Fikrie Kahar was neutralized by Philippine security forces in December 14 last year, the Palace official said. Valte said Kahar is a suspected Malaysian member of the JI. Kahar attempted to detonate an improvised explosive device in a hotel in Davao City and was killed by the police in an encounter. His Filipino wife, Anabelle Nieva Lee, remains under police custody and is currently undergoing judicial process, she said.

“Maipapakita natin na seryoso talaga ang pamahalaan sa ating pakikipaglaban sa mga ganitong klaseng terorista at umaasa tayong ang dalawang event na ito ay makakapagpadala ng malakas na mensahe sa mga indibidwal na tulad nila na ang Pilipinas ay hindi puwedeng gawing safe haven ng mga terrorista,” Valte said.

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