Posted on 02/27/2008 9:14:19 AM PST by Paleo Conservative
KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines -- An arrested al-Khobar extortion group member operating in Central Mindanao has admitted their group is led by a field commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
But Musali Calo, who was arrested in President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat last week, quickly added that the MILF, as an organization, has nothing to do with the bombings and extortion activities of al-Khobar.
Al-Khobar claimed it was behind several bombings of passenger buses and densely-populated areas in the cities of Kidapawan, Tacurong, Koronadal and General Santos.
Eid Kabalu, speaking for the MILF, denied the MILF was involved in extortion and bombing activities. He said the report is baseless and unfounded.
But Kabalu said the MILF central committee will conduct an investigation on the allegations.
Calo executed an extrajudicial confession assisted by a lawyer from the Public Attorney's Office, admitting participation in the Kidapawan City bombing last year and the Makilala town bombing in October 2006 that left eight persons dead and wounded more than 40 others.
Calo named a certain Zabide Abdul alias Commander Beds of the MILF 105th base command as the leader of the group.
He also told police investigators that Abdul leads a unit of the MILF in the village of Pawas, Gen. SK Pendatun town in Maguindanao.
Barangay Pawas, according to Calo, is situated in the heart of Liguasan marshland in Maguindanao where members of the group usually meet to plan extortion and bombing activities in Central Mindanao.
Calo said aside from Commander Beds, he also met a certain Salahuddin Hassan, whom he said is a relative of one of the suspected bombers that authorities had arrested in Kidapawan City because of his alleged participation in the KMCC mall bombing in Kidapawan City last year.
In that incident, a mall employee was killed and injured eight others.
Police said Hassan is a relative of Ustadz Abdulaziz Hassan, an Islamic preacher here whose house in the village of Nuangan was searched last week due to reports that at least six incendiary bombs were kept there.
Calo led police teams to Uztadz Hassan's house.
No bomb was recovered during the search but 20 kilos of urea, which authorities said can be used as an oxidizer in making an incendiary bomb, were seized.
But the wife of Hassan, Babu Sanao Hassan, said the fertilizers were not for bomb making but were agricultural assistance extended by the provincial government and Kidapawan City government's rubber development program.
Calo also admitted having bombed National Transmission (Transco) towers in Kidapawan City in July last year. He named Badrudin Guialuson as his companion in that bombing.
Guialuson was arrested by police and Army agents in Tacurong City a month later.
Calo said he participated in the Makilala bombing in 2006 and that the improvised explosive device was assembled in his home in the village of Pawas by Commander Beds.
Calo said Commander Beds was involved in the bombing of PhilBest Tuna Canning Corporation in General Santos City that left four dead and 28 others wounded.
Calo said he joined the al-Khobar group in 2006 and received a measly P2,500 for planting bombs at the base of Transco towers in Kidapawan City.
bump for later
Considering how attuned the Islamonazis are to our media, you'd think someone in their organization would understand that its acronym is the cause for much ridicule in English-speaking countries. Maybe they're not as smart as we give them credit for ...
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