A supposed active supporter of the Islamic-Inspired Maute group tasked to hatch bomb attacks during the Ramadan including the Feast of the Black Nazarene last January along with his wife were arrested in a police operation in Cagayan de Oro city Wednesday.
Initial reports from the office of the Philippine National Police identified the suspects as Eyadzhemar Abdusalam, 26, also known as Medical Jihad; his wife Catherine Dianne Palmitos, alias Maryam Aisha, both nabbed at 4:50 p.m.
The couple, authorities claimed, were based in General Santos City.
Reports tagged the suspects as having supported the Maute group by sending medical supplies to its fighters at the height of the Marawi City siege last year.
Intelligence reports disclosed the couple left Zamboanga City for Davao City and went to Cagayan de Oro City last Tuesday.
The reports said the suspects were heading to Lanao del Sur to meet with remnants of the Maute group apparently to planned bombing operations in Cagayan de Oro City.
“The bombing is part of the group’s long-standing plan to carry out an attack during Ramadan,” the reports claimed.
“He came under the radar of the intelligence community during the Marawi siege when he was monitored sending medical supplies for the beleaguered Maute-ISIS group. At the time, he was also planning to travel to Syria to join ISIS,” the reports said.
One of the bombing targets included the feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo in January last year. However, the supposed terror attack was not consummated due to the strict security measure enforced by security authorities.
The couple were out to conduct similar attacks in other Catholic festivities in Zamboanga City.
Intelligence information also said the Maute supporter had solicited funds for the manufacture of explosive devices to be utilized in the planned bombings and had sent money to the widows and orphans of the local Maute terrorists.
“He even instigated some foreigners to carry out lone wolf attacks in their respective countries, to include an individual in the United Kingdom who was apprehended in May 201 by British authorities for planning to carry out attack in London,” the reports said.
Abdusalam is said to be a registered nurse and a licensed Emergency Medical Technician and was reported planning to travel to Syria to join ISIS.
Abdusalam graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University in General Santo City, and former president of the Muslim Students Organizations.