Ex-Antipolo cop turned Maute group member admits role in Davao bombing
Breaking News • 04:27 AM Sat Dec 24, 2016
2,424
By:
Ferdinand Cabrera
Ex-policeman Jessy Vincent Original admitted he served as lookout in Davao night market bombing. (FC)
COTABATO CITY --- A former police officer of Antipolo turned member of Lanao del Sur based Maute terror group admitted participation in the Davao City bombing.Speaking to reporters, Ex-policeman
Jessy Vincent Original said heserved as lookout in the Sept. 2 Davao City night market bombing that left 15 dead.He and four others were arrested at a police and Army
checkpoint in Sitio South Madalum, Barangay Nabalawag, Barira, Maguindanao.
Senior Supt.
Agustin Tello, Maguindanao police director, said the arrest was carried out
after massive intelligence gathering activities.
Original, who
uses the name Abu Aisha, admitted this membership with the terrorist
organization and played a support role in the Sept. 2 Davao City bombing that
killed 15.
I was there
in Roxas (Davao City), we chose the place because there were many non-believers
of our ideology there, Original saidn in Filipino.
From planning
to execution, I was involved, he added.
Original was planning
to return to Manila or in the Visayas to lie low after they were driven out of
Butig in Lanao del Sur.
He said he was
a combat trainer for Maute group since he joined the group in early 2016 after
he went AWOL from Antipolo PNP. He served the Antipolo PNP for the past nine
years.
He learned of
Maute group through the internet.
I trained
them on military tactics, including close quarter battle, jungle warfare and
mountain military operations, Original said, admitting he was a Balik Islam
after a friend convinced him in Antipolo.
We are waging
jihad as the Quran says, that is our belief, Original said. When I joined the
group in Butig, I felt I belonged, we have the same belief then.
When asked why
they bombed civilians in Davao City, Original said there were plenty of Kafir
(sinners) there.
Original was
arrested along with Arumpac Ibrahim Pandita, Hamsa Bagul, Musa Rasalam and Mohammad
Said Jamla. They all denied membership with Maute group.
Pandita said
he was visiting a relative in Barira when arrested. They all denied they
personally know Original.
Police also
seized a white Toyota Tamaraw FX (ULB-358), a gray Mitsubishi Adventure
(DSL-162), Mitsubishi Montero (AEX-783), Toyota Fortuner (TDQ-440), Toyota
Fortuner (TQK-892) and a Toyota Hi-Ace van without license plates. The suspects
are now detained at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)
detection cell in Cotabato City.
Tello said
operating troops also seized a live improvised explosive device and four hand
grenades from the suspects.
Original said
most of his trainees were young children and the Maute group now has about
2,000 members. (Ferdinand Cabrera)