Suspect linked to global terrorist groups arrested in Sulu – ATC

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MANILA, Philippines — The Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) announced on Thursday the arrest of Myrna Mabanza, a financial coordinator said to be linked to international terrorist groups.

According to the ATC, Mabanza was arrested on Thursday in Indanan town, Sulu in a joint operation by the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and several other government units.

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“Mabanza has standing arrest warrants for five counts of violation of Republic Act (RA) No. 10168 (The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012) and RA No. 11479 (The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020),” the ATC said in its statement.

“Mabanza was involved in the transfer of funds with the leader of Islamic State East Asia, the late Isnilon Hapilon, and served as intermediary between Hapilon and Daesh elements in Syria,” the ATC added.

Police Brigadier General Allan Nobleza said Mabanza was a former resident and a school teacher in Zamboanga City and the widow of Mohammad Nab bin Hussin, a Malaysian terrorist member of the Islamic State in Draw and the Levant (ISIL), who introduced the ISIL ideology in the country.

“Bound by intra-marriage, she was influenced by ISIL ideology for propaganda, recruitment, and financial facilitation to ISIL-influenced groups in the country, particularly the Daulah Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf Group,” Nobleza said in a press conference in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Mabanza also helped facilitate the travel of a representative of an IS-linked terrorist group, the Jamaah Ansharut Daulah, from Indonesia to the Philippines to purchase arms and to set up training courses for pro-IS Indonesian recruits with local terrorist groups on firearms use and basic bomb-making, according to the ATC.

In 2018, the United Nations Security Council listed Mabanza under its sanctions list for her alleged association with Al Qaeda.

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The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control also sanctioned Mabanza for the same associations in 2018.

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“Mabanza’s arrest marks another positive note for the Philippines’ whole-of-nation campaign to address terrorism and terrorism financing that will reflect well to contribute in the country’s unyielding efforts to get out of the Financial Action Task Force’s Grey List,” the ATC added.

Nobleza said Mabanza is now detained in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology jail in Zamboanga City.