Suspected bombmaker Jordan Akmad was arrested in a joint police and military operation in Barangay Salat, President Roxas town in Cotabato. (Photo from the Western Mindanao Command)
MANILA, Philippines — A suspected bombmaker who is said to be involved in bus bombings in Cotabato province and Davao City was arrested in a joint police and military operation on Tuesday, the Western Mindanao Command said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.
The suspect — identified as Jordan Akmad, also known as Jordan Kamad — was arrested in Barangay Salat, President Roxas town in Cotabato.
“He was reportedly involved in the bombing at the bus terminals in Davao City and Kabacan, Cotabato,” Wesmincom said.
The arrest was made by troops from the 602nd Infantry Brigade under Col. Donald Gumiran and the President Roxas Municipal Police Station, according to Maj. Gen. Roy Galido, commander of Joint Task Force Central.
Akmad has a standing warrant of arrest for murder and multiple frustrated murders over the bombings.
According to the military statement, Akmad is associated with Ali Akbar, the leader of the Al Khobar Group who was arrested in June 2021 by virtue of a warrant of arrest.
Akbar is said to be one of the masterminds in the YBL bus bombing in Tulunan, Cotabato in January 2021 and the burning of a YBL bus in M’Lang, Cotabato in June of the same year that killed four civilians.
He is also said to be an extortionist belonging to the Daulah Islamiyah-Hassan Group, an Islamic State-linked group.
The suspect was turned over to the President Roxas Municipal Police Station.