Military holds RSM militant in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Security forces are holding a wanted member of a radical group allied with the terrorist Abu Sayyaf group after surrendering in the southern Philippine port city of Zamboanga.

Rommel Aguirre, a member of the Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM), yielded to the military after long years in hiding, saying he wanted to clear his name of all charges against him.

Aguirre is facing charges of illegal possession of explosives and went into hiding after security forces arrested other RSM members, including their leader Ahmed Santos, who was captured in Zamboanga in October 2005.

Army Colonel Antonio John Divinagracia, commander of the Task Forces Zamboanga, said Aguirre was convinced by his father to surrender peacefully and clear his name.

Aguirre denied all the allegations against him and said he is not a member of the RSM. “I want to clear my name. I am not a member of Rajah Solaiman Movement,” he said, adding, “I surrendered because I believe in this new (Duterte) government.”

RSM – founded by Santos in 1991 - is also being linked to the Jemaah Islamiya. In April 2016, security forces also captured two RSM militants Johan Jaalam and Melquiades Abrera in separate operations in Zamboanga City.  

Santos, whose real name is Hilarion del Rosario III Santos, is a Christian who converted to Islam and sought to establish an Islamic state in the Philippines. He had been implicated in numerous bombings in the country and was charged with rebellion.

In June 2008, Washington designated Santos and seven other senior RSM members - Angelo Trinidad, Pio de Vera, Redendo Dellosa, Feliciano de los Reyes, Dino Amor Pareja, Ricardo Ayeras and Reuben Lavilla - as Specially Designated Global Terrorists.

They were all captured separately in the Philippines and had been implicated in ransom kidnappings and many bombings and deadly attacks on civilian targets, including the February 2005 Valentine's Day bombings that left dozens of civilians dead and injured, the August 2005 twin bombings in Zamboanga City that wounded 26 people; the Super Ferry bombing in February 2004 that killed over 100 people, and February 2003 bombing of the Awang airport in Maguindanao.

Its members were involved in several plots to bomb high-profile targets, as well, including Manila public utilities, tourist areas, and the U.S. Embassy in Manila. It received training, funds, and operational assistance from the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah, and received funding from private Saudi sources that channeled funds through charitable nongovernmental organizations in the Philippines. (Zamboanga Post)

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