Explosives seized in raid on rebel leader’s house

MANILA, Philippines - Security forces raided the house occupied by arrested Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) co-founder Mohammad Ali Tambako in General Santos City and seized materials used for explosives.

The Army’s Explosives, Ordnance and Disposal Team and the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group raided Monday Tambako’s house in Doña Soledad Subdivision in Barangay Labangan.

Security forces found bomb-making materials like detonating cords, assorted wires, blasting caps, Christmas light bulbs, SIM cards and improvised circuit boxes.

“It is believed that Tambako and his men were planning to carry out bombings in the area,” Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said in a press briefing yesterday.

“There is a possibility that they are planning to divert attention away from the ongoing law enforcement operations at the SPMS Box,” he added, referring to the towns of Salvo, Pagatin, Mamasapano, and Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao.

Cabunoc said the planned bombings were also meant to gain attention and to secure funds from international terrorist groups.

The search operation was conducted a few hours after Tambako and four of his followers were arrested while on their way to the seaport of General Santos City in Barangay Calumpang.

The lawmen also captured Datukan Sato Sabiwang, Ali Valley Ludisman, Mesharie Edio Gayak and Abusahma Badrudin Guaimil alias Hansela Omar.

Tambako is one of the founders of the BIFF, which aims to establish a separate Islamic state in Mindanao. He was also the group’s military affairs vice chairman.

Tambako is suspected of being among those who brutally killed the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) police commandos during the now infamous Mamasapano incident last Jan. 25.

Tambako has also been accused of providing safe haven to wanted Filipino bomb expert Basit Usman and five foreign terrorists in Maguindanao. He is also believed to have ties with notorious Islamic fundamentalists around the world.

Tambako is now facing a string of criminal cases filed by a local court in General Santos and is now detained in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Manhunt operations

Usman, the Filipino bomb expert targeted by elite police forces during the Jan. 25 Mamasapano operation, is still hiding in Maguindanao, officials said yesterday.

“He was monitored to be just roaming around Maguindanao, within the SPMS Box,” Cabunoc said. – With Aurea Calica, Delon Porcalla, John Unson, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Roel Pareño