POLICE on Friday said they foiled a terrorist attack by arresting three Abu Sayyaf members in Metro Manila ahead of the Asean Summit.
Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa said police seized guns, ammunition and grenades from the three suspects when they were arrested in Quezon City on Nov. 10.
He identified the suspects as Abdulgaffar Jikiri, Alim Sabtalin and Sadam Jhofar, all from Basilan, and said they were arrested because of security operations for the Asean Summit.
Although none of the suspects admitted it, Dela Rosa said they were planning a terror attack that would damage the reputation of the government as host of the Asean Summit.
Jikiri, he said, posted hints of plans to stage terror attacks in Metro Manila in his Facebook page.
He said Jikiri posted photos of high-powered firearms and improvised bombs with captions that said these would be used to kill non-believers and unsympathetic Muslims.
Jikiri also supposedly posted photos of a mall and a park in Metro Manila.
Community leaders in the Salam compound in Culiat, Quezon City helped in the arrest, Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa said the arrests were not announced earlier to avoid alarming the public.
The suspects were charged with violating gun and explosives laws.
