2005 bomb plot suspect arrested in O. Mindoro

MANILA, Philippines - An alleged Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM) leader tagged in a 2005 plot to bomb establishments in Metro Manila was arrested in Oriental Mindoro Sunday, officials said yesterday.

Dinno Amar Pareja – who uses the aliases Khalil Pareja, Rash, Abu, Jihad, Mohammad, Arlan, Al Luzon and Ahmad – did not resist when he was cornered by Philippine National Police (PNP) Intelligence Group (IG) in Barangay Libertad, Roxas town.

“He expressed willingness to cooperate in our investigation of incidents involving RSM terrorists,” IG director Chief Superintendent Manny Barcena said.

Police said the RSM is a local militant cell composed of Muslim converts with links to the Abu Sayyaf, Jemaah Islamiyah and the al-Qaeda.

Barcena said Pareja, is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 154 Judge Abraham Borreta for murder and multiple frustrated murders.

The PNP said Pareja took over command of the RSM after its leader, Hilarion “Akmad” Santos, was arrested and detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City in 2005. Pareja was arrested for rebellion in 2009 but was released from detention in 2010 after the evidence against him was found to be weak.

“He went into hiding in Oriental Mindoro after getting wind that several arrest warrants for his role in killings and bombings in Mindanao were issued against him by various courts,” Barcena said.

Borreta recommended no bail for Pareja, who is being subjected to tactical interrogation at the IG headquarters in Camp Crame.

According to the PNP, Pareja was reportedly trained by Jemaah Islamiyah terrorists Dulmatin and Umar Patek on demolition and explosives, firearms familiarization and radical Dawah training in Camp Jabel Guba at Mt. Caranao, Central Mindanao in 2004.

Pareja is allegedly a key participant in the foiled bomb plot – codenamed “Big Bang” or “Great Ibadah” – targeting establishments in Metro Manila, especially those frequented by Americans.