Police capture suspected Sulu bomber

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Police security forces captured a suspected bomber, tagged to be behind the foiled assassination attempt on Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan last year, during a raid in Jolo town, according to an official.

Chief Superintendent Angelo Sunglao, chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operation for Western Mindanao identified the suspect as Abner Salahe Tahil alias Abs, whom they suspected also to have possible link in the recent Zamboanga International Airport bombing that targeted Tan.

The joint police intelligence, police Special Action Force (SAF), and Task Force ZIA arrested Tahil Wednesday noon, with the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by Regional Trial Court 9th Judicial Region Branch 3 in Jolo, Sulu on Thursday, for the crime of multiple frustrated murder and multiple attempted murder.

Sunglao said the case was in connection with the May 13, 2009 roadside bombing near the Sulu Provincial Capitol when the suspect exploded a bomb and hit the convoy of Tan.

“The arrest of the suspect is in connection with the attack on Gov. Sakur Tan,” Sunglao said.

He said Tahil is said to be a right hand man of former Jolo councilor Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawi, who was also tagged in the incident along with three other suspects.

At least four people were killed in the attack and wounded 10 others.

During the raid, Sunglao said the police force cornered Tahil inside the mosque located in Barangay Kasanyangan, Jolo.

Tahil was immediately brought to this city for further investigation by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) with possibility that the former could have links in the Aug. 5 bombing outside the arrival area of the airport that killed two of the suspects and wounded 24 others, including Tan.