Alleged Abu Sayyaf involved in 2007 Batasan bombing arrested

June 19, 2020

ZAMBOANGA CITY - An alleged Abu Sayyaf bomb expert involved in the 2007  bombing where Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar died at the House of Representatives was  arrested here Thursday.

Lt. Col. Roland Barraquio, Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company commander, said arrested was Kahar Indama, cousin of Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf leader Furuji Indama.

Barraquio said Indama was arrested in a law enforcement operation by way of service of warrant of arrest around 10 p.m. Thursday in his residence in Barangay Sangali here.

Barraquio said Indama has a warrant of arrest from a Basilan court for violating the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

Barraquio said recovered from Indama were one improvised explosive device (IED), grenade, and a .38 caliber revolver with ammunition.

He said Indama was involved in the November 13, 2007 bombing that killed  Akbar and injured seven others, two of whom are congressmen, at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City.

He said the arrested Abu Sayyaf bomb expert was also involved in the ambush of government troops sometime in 2007.

The ambush resulted in the death of seven militiamen and one member of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team and injured three soldiers and a militia.

Barraquio said Indama was detained for proper disposition and documentation.

Indama denied that he is a member of the Abu Sayyaf and claimed to be electrician by profession.

Indama said he ventured into buy and sell of fish due to the community quarantine amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

He claimed the improvised seized from him is being used in blast fishing. DMS