An Indonesian female bomber and two others were apprehended by combined elements of the AFP and PNP early morning of October 10, 2020.
“Based on the report submitted by Brig. Gen Gonzales, Rezky Fantasya Rullie, a.k.a Cici, an Indonesian national and her comrades were apprehended by virtue of a warrant to search a house at Sitio Kuppong, Barangay San Raymundo, Jolo, Sulu issued by the Regional Trial Court,” said Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., Commander, Western Mindanao Command.
According to Lt. Gen. Vinluan, Jr., the house is believed to be owned by local terrorist group sub-leader Ben Quirino Yadah, a.k.a, Ben Tatoo.
Also apprehended were Nur-Aina Alihasan, a.k.a, Inda Nhur, the wife Ben Tatoo, and Fatima Sandra Jimlani, the wife of an LTG member.
“The operatives seized an improvised explosive device (IED) vest rigged with 2 pipe bombs and other components,” Lt. Gen. Vinluan added.
The trio is currently detained at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) for documentation and filing of appropriate charges.
“We have been pursuing foreign suicide bombers in Sulu after the twin bombing in Jolo on August 24, 2020. Rullie was first in our list since we have received intelligence reports that she is going to conduct suicide bombing after the death of his husband, Andi Baso, an Indonesian foreign terrorist who was reportedly neutralized during an encounter with two of our ranger battalions on August 29, 2020,” said Brig. Gen. William Gonzales, the Commander of JTF Sulu.
“With this development, I believe that the combined authorities of the AFP and PNP in Sulu together with other government intelligence agencies had served justice for the Filipino people. Rullie is believed to be the daughter of the Indonesian couple who perpetrated the twin suicide bombing at Jolo Cathedral last January 27, 2019. The JTF Sulu under the direction of our WESTMINCOM Commander Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr. will never cease to hunt down these foreign terrorists, coddled by Mundi Sawadjaan and Radulan Sahiron. We are assuring the Filipino people most especially the Tausugs of Sulu that your Armed Force in this part of our country will never allow the foreign terrorists to sow fear and chaos in our land. We affirm that the JTF Sulu will continue its focused combat, intelligence, and civil-military cooperation activities in Sulu to end terrorism the soonest possible time,” Brig. Gen. Gonzales added.
The successful operation was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Joint Task Force Sulu, the CIDU-Sulu, and the Bureau of Immigration.
“My commendations to all the units involved in this operation. Let us continue to support each other with vigor and enthusiasm to combat terrorism and lawlessness,” Lt. Gen. Vinluan, Jr. urged.
“Rest assured that Team WestMinCom will continue to keep guard as we sustain the conduct of combat, intelligence, and civil-military operations to ensure peace and security in the region,” the commander added.
(Source: Western Mindanao Command)