IS-linked bus bombing suspect arrested in Cotabato City
NBI-BARMM Regional Director Jonathan Balite (seated center) present to the media a suspected local terrorist group member (standing in orange shirt) linked to a bus bombing and another bus burning in Cotabato province. (Photo courtesy of DXMS RADYO BIDA)
COTABATO CITY — The National Bureau of Investigation in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (NBI-BARMM) announced on Thursday the arrest of a suspected bomb maker and alleged extortionist.
The person allegedly also has links to Islamic State-affiliated local terror groups.
NBI regional director Jonathan Balite identified the suspect as Lutre Aman Bangcailat, 35, of Pikit town, Cotabato province.
Balite said Bangcailat is a member of Dawlah Islmiyah (DI) Hassan Group operating in Maguindanao and Cotabato provinces.
While he is from Barangay Buliok in Pikit town, the suspect is staying in a hideout in Cotabato City.
Bangcailat did not resist when law enforcers nabbed him at about 11 a.m. on Thursday in Barangay Rosary Heights XI.
The suspect has warrants of arrest for extortion, arson and murder.
Balite said the warrant for destructive arson against Bangcailat was issued by Judge Alandrex Betoya of RTC Branch 16 in Kabacan town.
On the other hand, Judge Jose Tabosares of RTC Branch 23 in Kidapawan City issued the warrants for murder and multiple frustrated murders.
The courts had set no bail for the suspect’s temporary liberty.
The apprehension was enforced by NBI-BARMM operatives in cooperation with agents from the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Bangsamoro police, Mindanao Area Police Intelligence Office and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
“(The arrest) was a product of close coordination and collaboration of law enforcement agencies,” Balite said.
He noted that Bangcailat was a close lieutenant of Salahuddin Hassan, leader ng DI Hassan Group who was killed in a military operation years ago.
He said the suspect was involved in the bombing of Yellow Bus Lines unit in Tulunan town that left a roadside fruit vendor dead in January 2021.
He was also involved in the burning of another Yellow Bus Lines unit, also in Tulunan, that burned to death two bus passengers in June 2021. /apl
