[Manila Standard] Philippine security forces in Mindanao said Saturday they were pursuing a Malaysian bomb expert who might be helping the Abu Sayyaf. The suspect, Mohammad Najib, is thought to have fled after troops overran a bomb-making camp in Basilan on Thursday. Three insurgents and a soldier were killed when soldiers seized the camp.Col. Joselito Rolando Bautista, Basilan’s military commander said, "Mohammad Najib has been helping Ustadz Abbas Alam, the Abu Sayyaf leader in the area in making bombs and recruiting young people."
Basilan Mayor Jain Pawaki said residents had reported that a Malaysian had been assisting the Abu Sayyaf in bomb-making.
Bautista and Pawaki made their remarks as they escorted reporters to the Abu Sayyaf outpost and showed captured transceiver radio sets, nails, ammonium nitrate, rolls of wire, electrical components and iron pipes rigged with explosives. They also showed several black flags that are similar to the ones used by the IS.
Bautista said, "The recovery is a big blow to the operation of the Abu Sayyaf and their plots to stage bombings were prevented."
Last week, acting National Police Chief Leonardo Espina said authorities were targeting Malaysian bomb maker Amin Baco after the slaying of terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir of Malaysia and Basit Usman.