NORTH COTABATO – Security forces arrested on Monday a member of a local terror group who was tagged responsible for the burning and bomb attack of passenger buses in the towns of Tulunan and M’lang that killed five people and injured several others.
Brig. Gen. Roberto Capulong, 602nd Brigade commander, identified the suspect as Ali Akbar, said to be a member of Dawlah Islamiyah-Hassan local terror group, who was nabbed by police and military operatives at his safe house in Barangay East Patadon, Kidapawan City early morning Monday.
Capulong said the arresting team seized two improvised explosive devices, blasting caps, bomb components and ISIS flag from the suspect.
The suspect was arrested by virtue of an arrest warrant for multiple murder which stemmed from the burning of Yellow Bus Line passenger bus in M’lang town last June 21 which resulted in the death of three passengers and wounding of several others.
Akbar was also indicted for the bomb attack on YBL passenger bus in Tulunan town last January 27 that killed a fruit vendor and injured three other people.
Authorities said the suspect, who was also a bomb expert, carried out the attacks on the YBL passenger buses after the bus company refused to give in to his extortion.