Indonesian woman, 2 others suspected for Sulu bombings nabbed

October 11, 2020

An alleged female Indonesian suicide bomber and two others were arrested by the military and police early Saturday morning in Sulu, according to the military.

Brigadier General William Gonzales, commander of the Joint Task Force, said joint operatives arrested Rezky Fantasya Rullie alias Cici, Indonesian, Inda Nurhaina and Fatima Sandra Jimlani around 1:50am at Barangay Asturias in Jolo, Sulu during the implementation of a search warrant.

Gonzales said the house where the suspects were arrested is allegedly owned by Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Ben Tatoo.

The JTF commander said Rullie is the wife of foreign terrorist, Andi Baso, who was reportedly killed in an encounter with the 1102nd Brigade in Patikul, Sulu last August 29.

“We have been pursuing foreign terrorist suicide bombers in Sulu after the twin bombing of Jolo town last August 24. Rullie was first on our list since we have received intelligence reports that she is going to conduct suicide bombing after the death of his husband,” Gonzales.

Gonzales added Rullie is believed to be the daughter of the Indonesian couple who perpetrated the twin suicide bombings in Jolo Cathedral on January 27, 2019.

As to the two other suspects, the military official said Nurhaina is the wife of ASG sub-leader Ben Tatoo and Jimlani is the wife of another AGS member, Jahid Jam.

Recovered from their possession were suicide vest rigged with pipe bombs and other improvised explosive device (IED) components.

The arrested suspects are now detained at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) of Sulu Police Provincial Office.

“With this development, I believe that the combined authorities of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP (Philippine National Police) in Sulu together with other government intelligence agencies had served justice for the Filipino people,” Gonzales said.

“The JTF Sulu under the direction of our Westmincom Commander Lt Gen Corleto Vinluan Jr will never cease to hunt down these foreign terrorists, coddled by Mundi Sawadjaan and Radulan Sahiron,” he added.

The JTF commander assured Filipinos, most especially the Tausugs of Sulu, that they will never allow foreign terrorists to sow fear and chaos in the country.

“We affirm that the JTF Sulu will continue its focused combat, intelligence and civil-military cooperation activities in Sulu to end Abu Sayyaf terrorism the soonest possible time,” he said. Ella Dionisio/DMS