THE Kuwaiti Embassy in Manila has sought the immediate deportation of its national Hussein Aldhafiri, a reported member of the Islamic State terrorist group arrested by immigration agents last month.
In a letter sent to the Justice Department, the embassy said the arrested ISIS member, who has a standing arrest warrant in relation to crimes against state security, will stand trial in Kuwait “for his involvement in the terrorist group ISIS.”
“Evidence obtained by Kuwait’s statement security agencies also showed that he is planning to carry out terroristic attacks in the State of Kuwait,” the letter said.
It also said that the passport of the fugitive has already been canceled and that all documents for his deportation have been prepared.
Aldhafiri was arrested March 25 along with his wife Rahaf Zina, a Syrian national who is reportedly also an active member of ISIS.
He was presented by the Justice department to the media last week and was transferred from the National Bureau of Investigation to the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters over the weekend, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said.
Aguirre said the couple would still undergo further investigation by intelligence agencies to determine if they were able to establish links with other groups in the country or recruit members for the terrorist group.
The DoJ chief said the two would be deported only after the probe is completed.
Aldhafiri was reportedly involved in explosives manufacturing and possibly in operational planning against Kuwait, while Zina is the widow of the slain Abu Jandal Al-Kuwaiti, the number two military commander of the ISIS operating in Syria.
The Army on Monday said the two suspects would be safe in its custody.
“The inmates are in safe place which is not easily accessible. Clearance and approval for visits shall be granted by the Bureau of Immigration [BI],” said Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ray Tiongson.
Tiongson said the two were turned over to them April 8, around 11:55 a.m., following the request of the DoJ and the Defense Department to provide a temporary detention facility for the two foreign detainees. With PNA
