ZAMBOANGA, 23 September 2003 — Authorities have detained a man said to be a Kuwaiti national in the southern Philippines just before President Gloria Arroyo arrived in this city for an overnight visit, officials said yesterday.
Zamboanga airport police official Superintendent Ybbar Padao said that the man was held on Sunday just after he disembarked a flight from Davao, another southern city.
Sources identified the man as Jasem Al-Hassan, 40, although they said they found documents in his possession indicating he used several aliases.
He was said to be a Kuwaiti national who was inspecting Islamic charitable groups in the south although officials said they were still checking his credentials.
Immigration officials said the man was in the custody of the Philippine marines but would not say why he was being held. Kuwait Embassy personnel said they had no reports of any nationals being held.
