US helped tracked Davao bombing suspects, including Abduljabbar Sema - AFP chief

DAVAO CITY -- The AFP has admitted the United States helped tracked one of the suspects in the Davao City bombing while he was travelling in Southeast Asia, on line reports said.AFP chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Año the United States provided intelligence information that helped tracked down suspects in the Sept. 2 Davao City night market bombing, including that ofDatu Mohammad Abduljabbar Sema, son of ex-Mayor Muslimin Sema and Rep. Bai Sandra Sema. What the US provides us is information-sharing, the way they get information through scientific and technical equipment, they have that capability so they share it with us, Año told Rappler.com, an online news organization in Davao City.The help came despite strained PH-US relationship.Año said the younger Sema should be brought back to the Philippines for him to answer the allegations.According to AFP chief, Sema was not the mastermind of the Davao night market bombing but has actively participated in the planning.President Duterte also admitted thatAmerican drones took images that helped track down the Davao bombing suspects.The 26-year-old Sema remained in the custody of Malaysian police authorities in an undisclosed place in Kuala Lumpur. He was arrested in October last year after suspected bombers were arrested in Cotabato City and Maguindanao.The Philippine government is seeking custody of Sema, village chair of Barangay Rosary Heights 7 in Cotabato City and an Islamic scholar.Military and police sources said he was a member of the Maute Group.The elder Sema, former mayor of Cotabato City and chairperson of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MNLF), and his wife Rep. Sema have not issued public statement on the reported arrest of their son.Efforts to reach them for comments proved futile.