Police foiled an alleged bombing plot in General Santos City when they arrested a suspected member of an Islamic State-inspired local terrorist cell Wednesday night.
A report reaching Camp Crame in Quezon City identified the suspect as Jamio Sala, a member of the defunct Ansar Khalifa Philippines during the time of Mohammad Jaafar Maguid who was killed in an encounter in Kiamba, Saragani more than a year ago.
“He is currently closely-associated with Commander Salahudin Hassan,” the report said. Hassan is a leader of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
“Accordingly, he will lead a team that will conduct bombing operation in General Santos City during the Yuletide season,” the report added.
Fed with reports from the intelligence community, local police raided Sala’s lair in Barangay Dadiangan East at around 7:30 p.m., resulting into his arrest.
Sala was arrested by virtue of Martial Law Arrest Order No. 2 issued by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in June last year.
Seized from him was a hand grenade.
Intelligence reports disclosed that Sala, also known as alias “Jamiung” and “Jumjum,” is reportedly involved in the Sarangani attack in August 2008 and a roadside bombing in Malapatan, Sarangani in 2010.
He is also being linked to the bombing in front of General Santos City Hall that wounded seven persons in 2014 and the hand grenade attack during the Maasim founding anniversary in 2016 that killed a policeman and wounded several civilians.
Sala was also identified as among those who planned the foiled bomb attack during a Christmas lighting activity in Kiamba, Saragani in 2016.
He is now under police custody and will be charged with additional case in connection with the grenade seized from him.