MILF hid Al-Ghozi, fellow escapees — Sayyaf member

Slain Indonesian terrorist Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi was given refuge by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and even trained new recruits following his July 14 escape, Abu Sayyaf member Omar Opik Lasal claimed yesterday.

Lasal, who escaped from Camp Crame together with Al-Ghozi but was captured four days before the Indonesian was killed, said MILF "lost command" groups tried to sell Al-Ghozi to the highest bidder. Lasal did not say with whom the "lost command" negotiated.

The highest bid for custody of the confessed Jemaah Islamiyah bomb expert reached P50 million, Lasal told ABS-CBN in an interview aired last night.

He said that after making their escape from their detention cell at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Quezon City, he, Al-Ghozi and Abu Sayyaf member Abdulmukim Edris traveled to Mindanao and stayed at the apartment of MILF commander Akiddin Abdusalam, also known as Commander Kiddie, in Barangay Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City.

Lasal said he and his two fellow fugitives then went to the camp of Shariff Aloy Ashri, which according to the report is another MILF commander in Lanao del Norte.

"Sa bahay ni Kiddie, si Al-Ghozi sinakay sa motor. Kami ni Mukim, sumakay sa taxi (Al-Ghozi left Kiddie’s house using a motorcycle while Mukim and I rode a taxi)," Lasal said.

At one point in their journey, Lasal said they even rode a Nissan Terrano going to Ashri’s place.

Abu Sayyaf leader Khaddafy Janjalani reportedly wanted to meet Al-Ghozi in person but this did not push through after Edris was killed in Lanao del Norte on Aug. 7.

The MILF has repeatedly denied having any connection with terrorist groups. Al-Ghozi was said to have taught MILF rebels how to make bombs during his visits to their camps.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu belied Lasal’s claim and challenged him to disclose the names of those involved in the alleged bidding for custody of Al-Ghozi.

"We have been saying that our door is open to investigation," Kabalu said.