MANILA — Police and soldiers arrested two foreigners in raids early yesterday on suspicion of links with international terrorists, officials said.
Bomb making materials, and altered and fake passports were seized from the three men, according to police intelligence.
Police said the Jordanian was arrested in Manila. The military said the other one was an Iraqi residing in Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao province, about 870 kilometers (540 miles) southeast of Manila.
Maj. Julieto Ando, a regional army spokesman, identified the Iraqi as Mohammad Sabri.
Eid Kabalu, spokesman of the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front, said the arrested man was actually an Egyptian national, who is a Qari (Qur’an Reading expert). Kabalu said Sabri has taught since 1998 at the Islamic Qur’anic Memorization Center in the village of Simuay.
"In fact, he had already married to a Tausug woman and blessed with a 3 children," said the MILF spokesman.
The MILF is holding peace talks with the government.
Sabri allowed soldiers to enter his house, Ando said. Soldiers seized explosives components, passports allegedly used by Selamah to identify himself as a Palestinian or a Jordanian, and tools to alter passports, Ando said. "We are still investigating what he was doing with the explosives and why he has in his possession a passport-making equipment," military spokesman Mabanta said. "He is also being investigated as to his linkages with Al-Qaeda."
In Manila, police agents arrested a Jordanian man suspected of being a terrorist after a raid on his apartment. Police agents said they seized detonating caps and blasting materials used in bombs, a handgun and a cellular phone from the apartment of the suspect, identified as Hussan Alden Hasam, in Paco district in Manila.
No other details about the suspect and the police operation were given. Officials said the Jordanian was taken to police headquarters for further investigation.
