Marwan. PHOTO FROM FBI.GOV
MANILA, Philippines — The al Qaeda-linked terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, through Malaysian terrorist Marwan, had planned to detonate a bomb and sow terror during the arrival convoy of Pope Francis in Manila on the night of January 18, 2015.
This was disclosed by police Director Getulio Napeñas Jr., sacked Special Action Force (SAF) commander, in his opening statement during the Senate hearing on the deadly Mamasapano, Maguindanao incident that killed 44 police commandos.
“Just recently during the Pope’s visit in the Philippines, we had information that the Jemaah Islamiyah, in coordination with Marwan, had planned to detonate a bomb as the Papal convoy (started) in Manila on January 18, 2015,” he said.
“These reports were neither confirmed nor denied or admitted by the PNP but the fact remains, however, that such information is existing,” he added.
Marwan reportedly specialized in bombs and improvised explosives devices, including those triggered remotely by cellular phones.
During the five-day visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines, upon the request of the government, telecommunications networks weakened or even stop cellular phone services in places to be visited by the pontiff.
Marwan, whose real name was Zulkilfi bin Hir, was the terrorist killed in a police operation on January 25 in Mamasapano where the SAF troopers were also slain.
Napeñas also said that Marwan’s wife was the former widow of late Abu Sayyaf leader Khadafi Janjalani.
Marwan had been hiding in Central Mindanao since 2002. He is considered the Osama Bin Laden of Southeast Asia for his heinous terrorist activities in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
“These undeniable facts and issue show the danger that Marwan poses to the public that danger no longer exists with his death on January 25. Thanks to our new breed of heroes who executed Operation Exodus,” Napeñas said.
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