2 leaders of Jemaah Islamiyah-linked network arrested in Zamboanga, Cotabato

MANILA, Philippines - Two top local associates of an al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) regional terror network were arrested in a series of anti-terror operations in Zamboanga and Cotabato cities, Executive Secretary and Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) chair Eduardo Ermita announced yesterday.

Ermita said Mokasid Dilna, overall head of the Al-Khobar Group (AKG), and Omar Venancio, one of the trusted men of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) 105th Base Commander Ameril Umbra Kato, were arrested for multiple murder, based on several warrants of arrest issued against them.

Under heavy guard, Dilna and Venancio were presented by Ermita in a media briefing at Camp Aguinaldo’s Officers Club House yesterday afternoon.

Ermita said Venancio served as a close associate of Umar Patek, a key JI bomber still hiding in the country.

Venancio was the first to fall into the hands of authorities during an anti-terror dragnet operation in Cotabato last Jan. 7.

Details of his arrest were not made available since it might jeopardize other ongoing anti-terror operations in Mindanao.

On other hand, anti-terror agents from the military, the police and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) cornered Dilna in his safehouse in Zamboanga City in the afternoon of Jan. 29.

Dilna is reportedly the overall head of the Al-Khobar Extortion Gang operating in various areas in Mindanao.

Dilna carries a cash reward of P1.3 million while Venancio has a P700,000 bounty on his head.

Director Dante Ferrer, chief of the Philippine National Police-Directorate for Intelligence (PNP-DI), said that the Al-Khobar group, aside from being the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the MILF, is also in close contact with JI and supports its operations in the country.

Going by other names such as Abu Badrin, Moks, Ting Adil, Mokasid Adi and Maks, Dilna had extensive bomb and demolition training in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“Dilna trained in explosives and weapons in Pakistan and Afghanistan in the early 1990s where he was in the same class as JI associated terrorist Umar Patek,” Ermita said.

Upon his return to the Philippines, Dilna taught select MILF members in bomb making and weapons handling and tactics.

In 2007, Dilna reportedly spearheaded a raid on Amas provincial jail in Kidapawan City, freeing 49 inmates, including Abu Sayyaf member Khair Mundoz who was on trial then.

At the time of Dilna’s arrest, he was monitored to have just come from Basilan where he reportedly met with Mundoz.

Dilna reportedly spearheaded the series of bombings in Central Mindanao since 2007 when their intended victims refused to give in to their extortion demands.

These bombings, especially on buses like the Weena Bus Line, Yellow Bus Line, and the Metro Shuttle Transport Co. in Davao and Cotabato, resulted in numerous deaths and the wounding of innocent civilians.

“Being the leader of the Al-Khobar Group, Dilna was also responsible for the accommodation and training of other Southeast Asian extremists in the former MILF Camp Abubakar in the 1990s,” Ermita said.

“He served as host to JI terrorists, including Dulmatin and his family, Umar Patek, Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, Bahar, Muawiyah and Latif, among others,” Ermita said.

Ermita added that Dilna’s training in Afghanistan and Pakistan gave him the opportunity to establish a wide network of contacts abroad.

This is the reason why local and foreign terrorists who have been arrested here and abroad spoke of Dilna’s assistance to them while in the country.

Venancio, who is also known as Abdul, Farouk, Jo and Victor, is Dilna’s understudy.

Dilna reportedly introduced Venancio to Patek, who along with Dulmatin, are wanted in the United States, Australia and Indonesia in connection with the 2002 Bali bombing.

Ermita also said Dilna’s endorsement of Venancio to Patek made him the JI’s most trusted local contact. He had been accompanying them in their travels all over Mindanao until 2005.

“He is known to have facilitated the transfer of funds of Umar Patek. He also acquired firearms and explosive materials for the use of the JIs in Sulu,” Ermita, quoting ATC files of Venancio, said.

In 2005, Venancio joined the JIs when the terrorist group left Central Mindanao for Sulu, where he reportedly became very active in terrorist activities along with Dulmatin, Patek, Abu Sayyaf leaders Abu Solaiman, Isnilon Hapilon, Radullan Sahiron and the slain Abu Sayyaf leader Khadaffi Janjalani.

In 2007, he returned to mainland Mindanao and became Kato’s top associate last year.

During his arrest, authorities seized from him receipts for bomb-making materials which the group intended to use to bomb the Davao City cathedral and beach resorts in nearby Samal Island.

Under interrogation, Venancio confessed that the plot was real and would have involved the Filipina wife of Patek as a suicide bomber.

Ermita said an arrested JI member, Mohamad Baehaqi, earlier disclosed this information to anti-terror operatives following his capture, and added that at least 20 more JIs are still operating in the country.