THE government said Monday it would deport an elderly Iraqi man described as a scientist for Hamas who has been accused of helping the Palestinian militant group lob missiles at Israel.
Iraq tipped off the Philippines about the presence of Taja Mohammad Al Jabori, 64, who was arrested in Angeles City, Pampanga, on Sunday, Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa told reporters.
The arrest was due to visa problems rather than any evidence of militant activity, the police chief said.
“He’s an illegal alien, his visa is expired so he has to be deported right away,” Dela Rosa said.
“He admitted being a member of Hamas. He’s a chemist and he has been responsible for improving the rocket technology of Hamas in firing their missiles from their area towards the other side, for Israel.”
The suspect will be deported to Iraq.
The police chief said it was the first time Philippine authorities had dealt with an alleged member of Hamas, a group labeled a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Israel.
The Islamist movement does not recognize Israel, with which it has fought three wars, and has vied with the rival Fatah movement for control of Palestinian territory.
The handcuffed detainee did not speak while being made to stand beside the Philippine police chief at a press conference.
Dela Rosa said it was unclear at present why the alleged Hamas chemist had traveled to the Philippines.
Police said he arrived last year as troops battled militants loyal to the Islamic State group for control of the southern city of Marawi.
Al Jabori, however, mostly stayed in Manila and nearby provinces and told police he had no intention of committing any terror act in the Philippines, the police chief said.
Records showed that Al Jabouri arrived in Manila from Istanbul, Turkey, on Aug. 17, 2017.
During questioning, Al Jabouri revealed that he served as a consultant for Hamas in Damascus, Syria and moved to Istanbul, Turkey sometime in 2012. With AFP, PNA
He added that he traveled to Manila to meet a Chinese business group that hired him as a consultant. With AFP, PNA