PNP announces capture of 2 suspected IS members in Laguna

Newly installed Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dir. Gen. Oscar D. Albayalde announced on Friday the capture of two suspected members of extremist group Islamic State (IS) in Laguna.

Albayalde said the suspects, identified as Jimuel Velasco Dizon alias Amir, and Eddie Boy Alejo Bermejo alias Abdullah, were arrested in two separate operations in in the cities of Cabuyao and Sta. Rosa early Thursday morning.

Albayalde said that the men are Muslim converts and have suspected links with the Rajah Sulayman Movement (RSM), which pledged allegiance to Isis.

READ: Authorities arrest 2 alleged ISIS members

The police chief said the authorities have not yet established if the two have plans of carrying out terror attacks but they were under consistent surveillance because of their links with the RSM.

“Actually we did not discover any plans although they are already subject of our surveillance ever since,” Albayalde said in a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

“They are identified as members of local threat groups which pledged allegiance to Isis that’s why they were subjected for case buildup and surveillance,” he added.

The men are currently undergoing inquest proceedings in Cabuyao, Laguna as of posting time.

The police chief said the capture should not alarm Metro Manila residents because the authorities have prevented any possible attacks with the suspects’ capture.

“This is an indication that our law enforcers and our Armed Forces of the Philippines and our intelligence operatives are doing their jobs,” he said.

“This is part of our target-hardening measures, this is part of our proactive measures to prevent terror attack particularly here in Metro Manila,” he added.

Authorities are running after suspected members of terror groups that have pledged allegiance to Isis to prevent another siege like that of Marawi City. /jpv