AFP takes custody of couple suspected of having IS links

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre (seated, right) present Rahaf Zina (standing left) and Husayn al-Dhafiri to media on Thursday, April 6, 2017. The couple is suspected of having links with the Islamic State. (Photo by JOAN BONDOC / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The foreign couple who were arrested early this week due to their suspected links to the Islamic State have been turned over to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Husayn al-Dhafiri from Kawait and Rahaf Zina from Syria were transferred on Saturday morning to the custody of the AFP Intelligence Service Group in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

Maj. Jonathan Escopalao received them on behalf of the AFP.

Previously, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) had custody of the couple following their arrest last March 25.

Arrested for violating immigration laws, they were presented to the media at the NBI last Thursday at news conference conducted by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.

Al-Dhafiri is allegedly involved in explosives manufacturing and was identified as an IS middle-level leader and a brother of a former IS leader, who is now dead.

Zina is reportedly the former wife of the extremist group’s former second in command and is about four or five months pregnant. /atm