MANILA, Philippines -- A suspected bomb-maker of an al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group has asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) for a preliminary investigation during his inquest proceeding this Thursday.

Mohammad Alfariz Rafiquillah, 48, who has been identified as a Bangladeshi national and an alleged member of the Jemaah Islamiyah, was arrested in Shariff Kabunsuan after he was found in possession of bomb-making materials last December 2.

He appeared before State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera, together with lawyer, Rosemarie G. Gonzalez.

"I wish to avail myself of my right to a preliminary investigation and, for this purpose,... voluntarily waive my right under the provisions of Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code," Rafiquillah said in the document he signed before Navera.

"Pending the completion of the preliminary investigation proceedings, I agree to remain under police custody,” he said.

Because of the waiver, the DOJ has deferred the filing of the case for violation of Presidential Decree 1866 as amended by Republic Act 8294 or Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition and would instead conduct a full blown investigation.

Criminial Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested Rafiquillah around 2:50 p.m. on December 2 at his cellphone repair stall at Barangay (village) Tapayan at the municipality of Sultan Mastura in Shariff Kabunsuan.

Information sheet showed that among the items confiscated were a backpack and a carton containing an RPG shell with explosive filler with one non-electric blastic cap inserted; an RPG shell with fuse assembly; an alarm clock; soldering lead; 17 pieces of cut electrical wires; rolled magnetic wire; an AA battery; two pieces of 81-millimeter mortar shells with fuse assembly, eight feet of detonating cord; five cellular phones; two pieces blasting caps; a personal computer; 3 SIM cards and P 3,710 in cash.