Indonesian teen, son of alleged suicide bombers, rescued in Basilan

Basilan map. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

LAMITAN CITY, BASILAN — A young Indonesian national, who is the son of the alleged suicide bombers behind the bombing of the Jolo cathedral in January 2019 was rescued by soldiers in a military operation in a village of Sumisip town in this province.

Colonel Frederick Sales, acting commander of the Joint Task Force Basilan, said they had rescued Ahmad Ibrahim Rullie, 15, during a military operation against the terror groups Dawlah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf in Sitio Lobloban, Barangay Guiong, Sumisip town on June 3.

The minor, also known as Addih, is the son of the late Rullie Rian Zeke, 35, also known as Abbang Rullie, and his wife, Ulfah Handayani Saleh, 32, whom the military identified as “suicide bombers” behind the January 2019 bombing of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral of Jolo that killed 23 people and wounded more than a hundred.

Sales said the Indonesian minor was rescued while soldiers conducted a “focused” military operation, targeting Sulu-based DI-ASG subleader Mudzrimar Sawadjaan and the Basilan based Abu Sayyaf subleader Pasil Bayali.

He said the 5th Scout Ranger Battalion troops found the Indonesian national.

Sawadjaan, also known as Mundi, had brought the minor with him when he fled from Sulu to evade the combat operation of the 1103rd Infantry Brigade in the area, according to Sales.

The young Rullie was brought to a military hospital for medical checkup.

“He is still young,” said Lieutenant General Roy Galido, Western Mindanao  Command chief. “We are hopeful that with proper guidance and counseling, he will be able to walk back on the right path and build a better future,” Galido said.

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