ZAMBOANGA CITY — A member of a local terrorist group was arrested by operatives from the 82nd action company of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force here on Sunday, September 27, in Barangay Recodo.
Authorities identified the suspect as Hajili Banah, a.k.a. Hashim Saripada was arrested by virtue of the two warrants of arrest docketed under Criminal Case No. 7220-2526 for Multiple Murder and Criminal Case No. 7221-2527 for Multiple Frustrated Murder issued by Judge Danilo M. Bucoy of 9RTC, Br. 2, Isabela City, Basilan.
Hashim Saripada is a local terrorist group member under Hajan Sawadjaan. His stint with the group started in 2002 where he served as a financial and personnel facilitator, including foreign terrorist fighters, in Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, and Sulu.
According to the military records, Saripada was involved in the Vehicle-borne IED (VBIED) Suicide Bombing in Barangay Colonia, Lamitan City on July 31, 2018, that killed 11 AFP personnel and civilian, and also Mount Carmel Cathedral Bombing in Jolo, Sulu on January 27, 2019, that killed 22 individuals where he served as the planner and supervisor of the whole operation.
Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., WestMinCom Commander lauded his troop saying the arrest of Saripada will greatly debilitate the group particularly in the planning and execution of their bomb ploys.”
“This successful operation is attributed to the stalwart intelligence personnel of the PNP,” Lt. Gen. Vinluan concluded. Recovered from the subject’s possession and control were 1 Gallon ANFO, 9 pieces blasting caps, 5 meters detonating cord, 1 Fragmentation Grenade, and 1 Backpack.
Saripada is now under the custody of RIU9 for documentation prior to his turn over to the court concern in Isabela City, Basilan.-Mabel Perez/Newsline.ph
