PNP says flying schools constantly monitored

July 3, 2019

The Philippine National Police ( PNP) on Wednesday said they are monitoring flying schools, especially those which accept foreigners as students.


In an interview in Subic, Police General Oscar Albayalde said their monitoring resulted in the arrest of a Kenyan national suspected to be member of Al Qaida terror group.


"There's an information that allegedly he was some sort of coordinator on the January 15, 2019 Nairobi attack... we have to confirm that yet," he said.


Albayalde said monitoring training schools started after a suspect in the 9/11 attack underwent training in the Philippines.


"Since then we are actually monitoring different flying schools. Those who undergo (training) especially on foreigners," he said.


Asked if they found out the purpose of the stay of the Kenyan national, the PNP chief said there was no report yet from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group ( CIDG).


Albayalde said the arrest of the suspect is one of the precautionary measures in preventing terror attacks


"Of course our target hardening measures is to verify (the suspect). It's possible that he doesn't have plans and  he just really want to become a pilot," he said.


The CIDG arrested Cholo Abdi Abdullah for illegal possession of firearms and explosives inside a hotel in Iba, Zambales last Monday. Ella Dionisio/DMS