Police intelligence operatives have captured a brother-in-law of the late Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader Isnilon Hapilon, who provided logistics support for the terrorist group.
In a news conference in Zamboanga City on Sunday (August 1), Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police Gen. Guillermo Eleazar announced the capture of Masckur Adoh Patarasa, AKA ‘Makong’/’Omair Sali Taib.’
Eleazar said Patarasa was arrested in Bgy. Asturias, Jolo, Sulu at around 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 30, during an intelligence-driven police operation launched by the Regional Intelligence Unit-9 of the PNP Intelligence Group.
The operation was conducted in coordination with Regional Intelligence Division-9; Sulu Provincial Police Office; PNP-SAF; CIDG9 Sulu Provincial Field Unit; PNP-IMEG; Regional Maritime Unit 9 ; MAPIO-ZSO; RID BAR; RMFB14; NICA9; Team ISAFP; and MCIBN, PMC.
Patarasa is the subject of warrants of arrest issued by Regional Trial Court Presiding Judge Leo Jay T. Principe of the 9th Judicial Region, Branch 1, Isabela City, Basilan, as an accused in seven separate cases of kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
Elezar said Patarasa is an active non-uniformed personnel (NUP) of the PNP presently assigned to Banguingui Municipal Police Station, Sulu Provincial Police Office, but was also found out to be the finance/logistics liaison officer of Dauwla Islamiya/ASG, and was included in Martial Law Arrest Order No. 1 during the Marawi Siege in 2017.
Police records show that in May 2017, Patarasa, together with an unidentified individual linked to the ASG, planned to transact the sending of funds to ASG members fighting in Marawi City through his brother-in-law Isnilon Hapilon.
Eleazar said Patarasa joined the ASG in 2001 under Khadaffy Janjalani in Basilan and later shifted to ASG Senior Leader Radullan Sahiron in Sulu. Moreover, he was also known to have direct contact with Jemaah Islamiyah operative Amin Baco AKA ‘Guro Jihad’ and other ASG personalities.
Deeper background investigation disclosed that Patarasa received funds from Almaida Salvin, a designated terrorist included in the U.S. Treasury’s sanctions list who was arrested sometime in April 2019 for illegal possession of explosives, through Merhama Sawari who was neutralized in a Parañaque City shootout together with three suspected terrorists on June 20, 2020.
“I am glad that our personnel were able to arrest the subject person, this still forms part of the Intensified Cleanliness Policy that we are implementing. Cleanliness of the ranks should be maintained to regain the trust and confidence of the people in our organization,” Eleazar said.
“I commend our units here in Region 9, as well as other units involved in the arrest of this person. Your action is a reflection of our campaign to keep the organization free from persons with ill motives. Let us join hands in keeping the Philippine National Police a respectable organization, true to its mandate to serve and protect the people,” he added. (PNP-PIO) – jlo
