Police seize bomb-making materials

From the Sun Star-Zamboanga (Oct 14): Police seize bomb-making materials

THE police authorities have arrested a man, believed to have ties with the Abu Sayyaf group, in possession of bomb-making components in one of the island villages of Zamboanga City, an official said Tuesday.

The arrest was made two days after the military authorities have foiled a bombing attempt and disrupted an improvised bomb found at the historic Plaza Pershing in the city.

Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) spokesman Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca identified the arrested suspect as Abdulhalik Ajibon also known as Alex Ajibon, 50, a resident of Tictabon, an island village east of this city.

Huesca said Ajibon was arrested in a raid around 4 p.m. Monday in the village of Tictabon, which is one of this city's island villages.

Huesca said the raid was carried out on the strength of a search warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 12.

Huesca said Ajibon "is related and affiliated" to a certain Eric Ajibon also known as Eric Jailani, an Abu Sayyaf member based in the nearby province of Basilan.

The raiding team confiscated five blasting caps, two which with attached wires, concealed in a playing card plastic case, according to Huesca.

He doubts if Ajibon is just engage in blast fishing citing the explosive being used is non-electrical contrary to the blasting caps that were confiscated.

ZCPO director Senior Superintendent Angelito Casimiro disclosed they are investigating whether or not Ajibon has a hand on the improvised bomb that was found at historical Plaza Pershing downtown.

The improvised bomb placed inside a thermos was discovered around 7:35 p.m. Saturday underneath one of the cornet benches of Plaza Pershing.

Huesca said Ajibon was placed under the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit for the filing of appropriate cases in court.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/local-news/2014/10/14/police-seize-bomb-making-materials-370985