Philippines holds son of Indonesian suicide bombers

BASILAN - The Philippines is holding the 15-year old son of an Indonesian suicide bombers following an operation by security forces against pro-ISIS groups Dawlah Islamiya and Abu Sayyaf in the southern Muslim province of Basilan.

The Western Mindanao Command confirmed the report, saying members of the 5^th Scout Ranger Battalion recently recovered Ahmad Ibrahim Rullie, whose parents Rullie Rian Zeke and Ulfah Handayani Saleh were tagged in the January 2019 bombings of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel in downtown Jolo in Sulu province. 

“While conducting a focused military operation targeting Sulu-based Dawlah Islamiyah-Abu Sayyaf Group sub-leader Mudzrimar Sawadjaan and Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Pasil Bayali, troops of the 5th Scout Ranger Battalion were able to seize the harboring position of the target at Sitio Lobloban in the village of Guiong in Sumisip town and rescued an Indonesian national,” the military said. 

The teenager was raised by Sawadjaan following the death of the Indonesian couple and eventually escaped a massive military operation in Sulu and fled to Basilan. Sawadjaan and Bayali and their followers managed to escape the operation launched on Monday, June 5. 

Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, also issued a brief statement and said: “He (Ahmad) is still young and we are hopeful that with proper guidance and counseling, he will be able to walk back on the right path and build a better future.” 

No other details were made available by the military. 

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria or ISIS claimed responsibility for the deadly twin blasts carried out by the pair in Jolo. ISIS, in a statement released by its Amaq News Agency, said the first bomber detonated an explosive belt, while the second attacker blew himself up outside the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral and killed and wounded dozens of people, including soldiers deployed in the area.

The Long War Journal also reported that ISIS described its target in Jolo as a “Christian temple,” saying that it was bombed during a “gathering of the Crusaders to perform their polytheist rituals.” Authorities said a total of 20 people were killed and over 70 others wounded in the blasts. (Mindanao Examiner)