Motorcycle-riding suspected terrorists facing only simple charges

From InterAksyon (Oct 11): Motorcycle-riding suspected terrorists facing only simple charges

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said over the weekend that charges have been filed against three motorcycle riding persons who were arrested by the police in Quezon City last October 5.

The three are alleged to be members of the Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM), a group of radical Filipinos that have converted to Islam as their new religion and suspected to be involved in some deadly bombing incidents in Metro Manila.

Facing charges for simple violation of  RA 10591, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, were Ricardo Ayeras alias Abdul Karim Ayras , Andrescio Valdez alias Sabri Sindayen and Ricky Macapagal alias Abdurahim, Senior Supt. Wilben Mayor, PNP public information chief,  said.

RSM is believed to have ties with the Abu Sayyaf (ASG) and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), an Indonesian terror group that is said to be aspiring to set-up a Pan Islamic State in Southeast Asia.

The AS, JI and RSM were among the militant groups in Southeast Asia that have expressed loyalty to the radical Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) that have taken over huge swaths of territory in the Middle East.

Mayor said in a statement that the three suspected terrorists are also facing charges for violation of RA 10054 or Riding without Helmet and of RA 4136, Riding without License, and concealment of true name.

The three were arrested during the conduct of OPLAN SITA by elements of Masambong Police Station led by Supt. Pedro Sanchez, Mayor said.

They were presented for inquest proceedings upon their arrest last October 5, 2014 and continue to be detained at the lock-up cell of Masambong Police Station.

Seized from their possession at the time of their arrest were a hand grenade, suspected falsified documents and government identification cards.

Their arrest prompted the US Embassy in Manila to issue a travel advisory warning its citizens of a possible terror attack in the Metro Manila. See: US embassy issues security alert after arrest of 3 NCR bomb plot suspects.

The issuance of the US travel advisory coincided with the PNP raising the alert status of its forces from normal alert to heightened alert status.

But, Mayor said on Friday that the uptick in the alert status was not connected with the US travel advisory, but part of a protocol for the police and military to raise their alert status whenever the head of state or the President leaves for abroad.

President Aquino left for Bali, Indonesia on Thursday to attend a two-day forum on democracy.

When sought for comment on the US travel advisory, the police official said that that was part of procedural actions of a foreign government to protect their own citizens. "We also do the same," Mayor said.

A source from the police intelligence community confirmed the status of Ayeras as a member of the RSM, which is believed to have ties with the shadowy Khilafa Islamiya Movement (KIM).

Among the deadly attacks in which RSM has been implicated were the bombing of the Superferry cruise ship on February 27, 2004, in which hundreds of people died and scores of others were injured. The group was also suspected to be involved in the Valentines Day bombing in Makati City a year later.

KIM was established by a certain Human Abdul Najib aiming to establish an Islamic state in the Philippines. It was blamed for past bombing attacks that include the bombing of a hotel in Cagayan de Oro City last year.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/97101/motorcycle-riding-suspected-terrorists-facing-only-simple-charges