Suspected Indonesian JI leader nabbed in Davao

DAVAO CITY ­­– An Indonesian believed to be a leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist network was arrested in Davao Oriental on Sunday.

Mohammad Baehaqi was immediately flown to Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, where Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. presented him to reporters yesterday.

“The 26-year-old Latif (Baehaqi) has been in the Philippines since September 2005,” he said.

“He admitted to have since joined the group of Dulmatin, Umar Patek and Marwan, who are known JI members. He was the JI liaison in central and southern Mindanao at the time of capture.”

When presented to reporters, Baehaqi shouted in Arabic: “God is great! I am a true believer of Islam.”

Baehaqi was later taken to Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Makati to face deportation proceedings before the Bureau of Immigration.

In Davao City, Indonesian Vice Consul Bambang Gunawan told The STAR the embassy would have to check on the real identity of Baehaqi.

“I do not know exactly if he is Indonesian or not,” he said. “We still have to check.”

At Malacañang, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who chairs the Anti-Terrorism Council, said the arrest of Baehaqi and the reported death of JI bomber Dulmatin were “positive developments”  in the fight against terrorism.

“This only shows that we are gaining ground in terms of accounting for wanted terrorist personalities,” he told reporters.

“Despite all the political noise, we are focused on our jobs.”

When troops and police captured Baehaqi in Banaybana town, he was said to be the JI liaison for central Mindanao.

Baehaqi, alias Latif, Salman or Tatoh, was arrested based on a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Francis Palmones Jr. of the Regional Trial Court of Kidapawan City.

He is facing charges of multiple murder and frustrated multiple murder for the bombings in Makilala, Cotabato province, General Santos City and Cotabato City in October 2006.

Two other people arrested with Baehaqi in Davao Oriental are believed to be his local contacts: Cabiza Generoso and Mohar Abais Generoso.

The Generosos have remained in Davao City where charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives were filed against them.

Seized from Baehaqi were firearms, cellphones, camouflage uniforms, combat boots, blankets, hammocks, blasting caps, explosives, detonating cords, bomb-making diagrams in Bahasa Indonesian, popsheets in Arabic, SIM packs and laptops.  – With James Mananghaya