2 ‘IS sympathizers’ fall

A composite team of police and military intelligence agents arrested two suspected Islamic State (IS) sympathizers on Thursday in Laguna province and seized from them four firearms, two grenades, ammunition and improvised explosive devices.

At a press conference in Camp Crame on Friday night, Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde identified the alleged terrorists as Jimuel Dizon, alias “Amir”; and Eddie Boy Bermejo, alias “Abdullah.”

Albayalde said that Dizon and Bermejo were “Balik-Islam” (converts to Islam) members of Suyuful Khilafa Fi Luzon, an affiliate of the Luzon-based Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM).

Valentine’s Day bombing

Formed in 2002, RSM is suspected of involvement in several terror attacks, including the bloody 2005 Valentine’s Day bombing in Metro Manila.

“They (Dizon and Bermejo) have been subject of our surveillance ever since. We are conducting follow-up operations … and our intelligence buildup on this group (RSM) is continuous,” Albayalde said.

Operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the local police, and military intelligence also confiscated a pair of black IS flags from the two suspects, who were arrested separately at their homes in subdivisions in Barangay Tagapo in Sta. Rosa City and Barangay Mamatid in Cabuyao City.

The raiders were armed with warrants issued by a San Pablo City court, Albayalde said. —JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE