Ustadz Mohammad Ali Tambako. PHOTO by Jullianne Love de Jesus
MANILA, Philippines–The arrested leader of a Moro rebel group whom the military tagged as among those responsible for the killing of 44 police commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, was flown to Manila from General Santos City on Monday for inquest procedure.
Ustadz Mohammad Ali Tambako, leader of the United Islamic Movement for Justice (UIMJ), a breakaway group of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and his four cohorts were arrested in a joint police and military operations in Barangay (village) Calumpang Sunday night.
Around 2:30 p.m., the military aircraft carrying Tambako arrived at the Villamor Airbase. From there, he was brought to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group office in Camp Crame to undergo inquest proceedings.
General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., Armed Forces chief of staff, in a press briefing said Tambako was among those responsible for the killing of 44 Special Action Force commandos in a Jan. 25 operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, that triggered public outrage.
Catapang likened the impact of Tambako’s arrest to the arrest of Benito Tiamzon and his wife Wilma Austria, which was considered a big blow to the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army.
‘‘He is also believed to be coddling notorious bomber Basit Usman and other five foreign terrorists. He has established contacts with Islamic fundamentalists around the world,’’ Catapang said.
Joint elements of the CIDG, Special Action Force, General Santos Police, and the military served Tambako warrants of arrest for murder and double frustrated murder.
Catapang said he was in a tricycle with his four cohorts, apparently on their way to a sea port in General Santos City, when arrested. Authorities recovered from Tambako three grenades and two short firearms.
‘‘He was caught unaware. He had no time to fight,’’ Catapang said.
Tambako served as the acting chairman of the BIFF when the rebel group’s founder Ustadz Ameril Umra Kato was killed in 2012. He was also a former member of the Moro National Liberation Front before crossing over to the BIFF.
In March 2013, Catapang said Tambako broke away with the BIFF “due to his conflict of interest with the BIFF chief of staff.”
“This accomplishment is made possible through the excellent coordination of different government agencies and I congratulate everyone for this mission we had done as per instruction of the President to hunt down all BIFF terrorists in Maguindanao,” Catapang added.