Palestinian’s arrest disrupts terrorists

The arrest of a suspected al-Qaeda-linked Palestinian terrorist has driven his cohorts in the country into hiding as authorities continued to question him.

Fawaz Zi Ajjur, 39, was arrested in Zamboanga City a week ago after he was identified as one of six Arab men who provided training to the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan.

"The arrest of Ajjur will keep his suspected terrorist contacts continually on the run," said Senior Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman.

Immigration authorities at Zamboanga International Airport detained Ajjur for questioning on March 26 after he presented only his Palestinian passport upon arriving from Sandakan, Malaysia.

He drew more suspicion when he could not show any proof of means of financing his travel even though Ajjur claimed to be a businessman.

Ajjur was arrested while waiting for his deportation after two Abu Sayyaf members in custody positively identified him as one of their trainers in Patikul, Basilan, an Abu Sayyaf stronghold.

"We initially relied on testimonies given to us by several people who identified him and have knowledge of his activities here," said Wennie Quidato, of the Bureau of Immigration’s intelligence division.

A background check revealed that Ajjur frequented Zamboanga City and Metro Manila since 2002, and that he took a circuitous route to Zamboanga — starting from the former Soviet republic of Ukraine, then traveling through Thailand and Malaysia.

Ajjur is also fluent in Filipino, French and Russian. Police and military officials suspect that Ajjur may be part of a plot to disrupt the ongoing Inter-Parliamentary Union assembly in Manila.

Bataoil said Ajjur was brought to Manila for further questioning after managing to stall interrogations in Zamboanga. "He is an expert in counter-interrogation and has been very evasive in his answers," said one military investigator.