16/02/2024
CIDG NETS MOST WANTED TERRORIST
The country’s Most Wanted Person and tagged as Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the United States Defense, fell behind bars during the service of five arrest warrants earlier, February 15, 2024 at about 5:50 AM in Brgy Pasil, Indanan, Sulu, following the directive of the CPNP, PGEN BENJAMIN C ACORDA JR Jr for an intensified counter-terrorism operation thru the PNP Task Force Sanglahi Bravo.
Agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group along with PNP Intelligence Group, PRO BAR, SAF, Maritime Group, Philippine Army, NICA, AMLC, and PAOCC arrested 32-year-old MYRNA AJILUL MABANZA a.k.a. “Myrna Adijul Mabanza,” “Myrna Adijul Anas,” “Dang,” “Nay,” “Khawla,” “Hafsa,” and “Myrna” who is wanted for violations of RA 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 and RA 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 under criminal case numbers 53502, 53503, 53504, 53506, and 53507 issued by Hon. Shaldilyn Bara Bangsaja, Presiding Judge of RTC 9th Judicial Region, Branch 33, Zamboanga City on December 20, 2023, all with no bail recommended.
PMGen Romeo M Caramat Jr, Director of the CIDG and Commander of the said Task Force (TF), stated that MABANZA was a former resident and school teacher in Zamboanga City. She is the niece of the late Abdullah Ajilul a.k.a. “Abu Termiji” and Amilhamja Ajilul, both were Abu Sayyaf Group sub-leaders involved in a series of bombings, kidnappings, and shooting incidents in Basilan and Zamboanga City.
"MABANZA is the widow of Mohammad Najib bin Hussin a.k.a. Abu Anas, a Malaysian terrorist member of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) who introduced ISIL in Southern Philippines. “Bounded by intra-marriage, she was influenced by ISIL Ideology for propaganda, recruitment, and financial facilitation to ISIL-influenced groups in the country, particularly the Daulah Islamiyah (DI) and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG),” added TF Commander.
With MABANZA’s activities and association with ISIL or Al-Qaida, she was declared by the U.S. Defense as Specially Designated Global Terrorist along with ISIL founder ABU BAKR AL BAGHDADI, and DI-ASG and Emir of IS-Philippines ISNILON HAPILON. Mabanza was also declared as Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Person by the U.S. Department of Treasury.
Authorities added that MABANZA facilitated the travel, accompanied, and assisted the Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) representatives from Indonesia to the Philippines in purchasing high-powered fi****ms in 2016.
MABANZA’s cohort and associate, Norkisa Omar Ibno was arrested earlier on December 24, 2023 in her residence in Isabela City, Basilan by joint operatives of CIDG, IG, MG, and PRO9 for the same violations and is currently at the Zamboanga City BJMP.
The accused will be transported from Sulu to Zamboanga City where she will be temporarily detained at the CIDG Zamboanga City Filed Unit Custodial Facility.
“Alinsunod sa utos ng ating Hepe ng Pambansang Pulisya PGen Benjamin C Acorda Jr sa pagpapaigting ng ating kampanya laban sa terorismo sa pangunguna ng Task Force SANGLAHI BRAVO kasama ang iba pang ahensiya, ang inyong PNP na may nagkakaisang layunin ay ang tagapagpatupad ng batas para sa pagsugpo sa mga kriminal at papanagutin sila sa kanilang sala” PMGen Caramat further added.