A suspected member of the Dawlah Islamiyah–Maguid terror group, linked to the 2018 General Santos City bombing, was deported by the United States and arrested upon arrival in Manila on Feb. 25, authorities confirmed.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), backed by the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), served the arrest warrant at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1.
The warrant, issued by the General Santos City Regional Trial Court Branch 23, charges the suspect with multiple counts of frustrated murder. His identity has not been disclosed by authorities.
According to the NBI, the suspect fled to the US in an attempt to evade prosecution but was detained by US immigration authorities for violations of immigration laws.
He was subsequently deported and immediately taken into custody upon arrival in the Philippines.
Intelligence reports identified him as a key figure in the planning and execution of the 2018 improvised explosive device (IED) attack that injured eight civilians, including a three-year-old child, in a commercial area of General Santos City.
Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., PNP chief, said the arrest demonstrates the vigilance of law enforcement agencies.
“Our assessment indicates no imminent threat in General Santos City. However, hindi tayo nagiging kampante. Continuous ang monitoring at intelligence operations natin,” he stated.
Authorities emphasized that while the Dawlah Islamiyah–Maguid Group has been blamed for a string of IED attacks in Mindanao, the latest arrest does not signal a resurgence of the group’s strength.
Several of its members have already been killed or captured in follow-up operations, though some remain at large.
Nartatez assured the public that counter-terrorism measures have been intensified nationwide.
“What this shows is that law enforcement remains vigilant. Kung may natitirang elements, we are actively tracking them,” he added. (Jeffrey Damicog, Martin Sadongdong)
