ZAMBOANGA CITY–An alleged bomb expert of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) involved in the 2007 Batasan bombing was arrested in an intelligence-driven law enforcement operation in this southern port city, a police official said Friday.
Lt. Col. Roland Barraquio, Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company commander, identified the arrested individual as Kahar Indama, cousin of Basilan-based ASG leader Furuji Indama.
Barraquio said Indama was arrested through a warrant of arrest around 10 p.m. Thursday at his residence in Barangay Sangali here.
Indama has a standing warrant of arrest for violation of Republic Act 10591 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act issued by a court in Basilan.
Barraquio said Indama yielded an improvised explosive device, grenade, and a .38-caliber revolver with ammunition.
Indama was involved in the November 13, 2007 bombing that killed then Basilan Congressman Wahab Akbar and injured seven others, two of whom are legislators, at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City, he said.
He said the arrested ASG “bomb expert” was also involved in the ambush of government troops sometime in 2007 that resulted in the death of seven militiamen and one member of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) and injured three soldiers and a militiaman.
Barraquio said Indama was detained for proper disposition and documentation.
Meanwhile, Indama denied that he is a member of the ASG and claimed to be an electrician by profession.
Indama said he ventured into buy and sell of fish due to the community quarantine amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
He claimed the IED seized from him is being used in blast fishing. -PNA
