ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police and military authorities arrested an alleged Indonesian suicide bomber and two of her Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) aides inside a residence owned by a Sulu-based ASG sub-leader in Asturias, Jolo, Sulu, Saturday, October 10.
Joint Task Force (JTF)-Sulu Spokesperson Lt. Col. Ronaldo Mateo identified the Indonesian suicide bomber as Rezky Fantasya Rullie, alias Cici.
READ MORE: Female suicide bombers triggered Jolo blasts; martial law eyed in Sulu
Rullie’s close aides, who were arrested with her, were identified as Inda Nurhaina, wife of ASG sub-leader Ben Tatoo; and Fatima Sandra Jimlani, wife of Jahid Jam, an ASG member.
The three were arrested by virtue of a search warrant issued by a local court in Jolo, Sulu.
Confiscated inside their residence was a suicide vest rigged with pipe bombs and other improvised explosive device (IED) components, according to Mateo.
The three are at the detention cell of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) in the Sulu Police Provincial Office, according to the report.
“We have been pursuing foreign terrorist suicide bombers in Sulu after the twin bombing of Jolo town last August 24, 2020,” said JTF-Sulu Commander Brig. Gen. William N. Gonzales.
READ MORE: 15 killed, 77 hurt in two Jolo bomb blasts
“Rullie was first in our list since we have received intelligence reports that she is going to conduct a suicide bombing to avenge the death of her husband, Andi Baso, an Indonesian foreign terrorist,” he added.
Baso was killed in an encounter last August 29 with soldiers of the 1102nd Brigade in Patikul, Sulu.
“With this development, I believe that the combined authorities of the AFP and PNP in Sulu together with other government intelligence agencies have served justice for the Sulu people, JTF-Sulu commander said.
According to Gonzales Rullie was believed to be the daughter of the Indonesian couple, who perpetrated the twin suicide bombing in Jolo Cathedral last January 27, 2019.
“The JTF Sulu, under the direction of our Armed Force of the Philippines- Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WestMinCom) Commander Lt Gen Corleto Vinluan, Jr. will never cease to hunt down these foreign terrorists, coddled by Mundi Sawadjaan and Radulan Sahiron,” Gonzales added.
“We are assuring the people of Sulu that your Armed Forces in this part of our country will never allow a foreign terrorist to sow fear and chaos in our land,” the JTF-Sulu commander said.