Troops arrest Abu Sayyaf bomb expert

ZAMBOANGA CITY -– Combined military and police forces have arrested a suspected Abu Sayyaf bomb expert in a raid on a west coast barangay in this city, a military official announced Sunday.

Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer Capt. Maria Rowena Muyuela identified the arrested Abu Sayyaf bomb expert as Abu Jomar.

Muyuela said Jomar was nabbed when the combined Task Force Zamboanga and local police operatives, armed with a search warrant, raided a house around 7 a.m. Saturday at 5th Street, Southcom village, Barangay Upper Calarian, west of this city.

Muyuela said Jomar’s presence was detected in the area by government intelligence operatives.

The military and the police have joined forces in law enforcement efforts aimed at arresting members of lawless elements in this city.

Muyuela said the raiding team recovered from the possession of Jomar a mobile phone, electrical wirings, adhesive tapes and blasting caps.

She said the arrested suspect was turned over to the police for debriefing and appropriate action.