Mug shot of Khair Mundos, a key leader and financier of ASG who was also tagged as a bomber, after being arrested. PHOTO from PNP
MANILA, Philippines–A top Abu Sayyaf Group leader tagged in several bomb attacks was arrested by joint intelligence forces of the military and police in Parañaque City on Wednesday morning, a police official said.
Khair Mundos, ASG financier and allegedly the middleman in the rebel group’s transaction with Al Qaeda terrorist network, was caught by the authorities at a house on A. Bonifacio street, Barangay (village) San Dionisio.
Mundos was arrested after two months of surveillance by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Intelligence Security Forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP).
Police Director Benjamin Magalong, CIDG chief, said an arrest warrant was served on Mundos, 50, for multiple murder, multiple frustrated and multiple attempted murder charges.
Magalong said Mundos bolted Kidapawan Provincial Jail in 2007 after he was rescued by his fellow ASG members.
Aside from the CIDG’s reward of P1.2 million in exchange of any information leading to his arrest, the Justice Department of the United States had put a bounty of $500,000 on Mundos’ head.
Mundos will be temporarily detained at the National Capital Region CIDG headquarters in Camp Crame.
Earlier Wednesday, the arrested ASG leader underwent debriefing at the AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo.
Police will bring Mundos to the court of origin in Kidapawan to return his arrest warrant.
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