Alleged Iraqi explosives expert taken into custody by PNP

January 22, 2018

Police have taken into custody a 64-year-old Iraqi man, described by his country's embassy in the Philippines as a "chemist with knowledge on explosives and is known to have close ties with militant  extremist movements in the Middle East," the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday.

In a statement, PNP Director General Ronald Dela Rosa said Taja Mohammed Al-Jabouri was apprehended on Saturday by members of the Intelligence Group in Barangay Malabanias, Angeles City, Pampanga.

Al-Jabouri entered the Philippines in August during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit. Dela Rosa said Al-Jabouri "has since evaded our radar after the Iraqi Embassy in Manila alerted the Philippine intelligence community of his presence."

The police intelligence team, led by Chief Superintendent Norberto Solomon, found Al-Jabouri " in the area toting a large black luggage."

Dela Rosa said Al-Jabouri's 90-day visa, valid from August 10, 2017 to November 9, 2017, had expired.

"A close inspection of his luggage yielded assorted personal effects and different denominations of foreign currency," said Dela Rosa.

Under questioning, Al-Jabouri said he served as a consultant for "Hamas" organization in Damascus, Syria and moved to Istanbul, Turkey in 2012.

He added that he traveled to Manila to meet a Chinese business group that hires him as a consultant, said Dela Rosa.

"The PNP-IG  is coordinating closely with the Bureau of Immigration and the Iraqi Embassy for further disposition of Mr Al-Jabouri," said Dela Rosa. DMS