Philippines arrests suspected Jamaah operative

Philippines arrests suspected Jamaah operative

Reuters Manila

An Indonesian man suspected of being a key operative of the regional militant group Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) was arrested a week ago in the southern Philippines, a police intelligence official said on Tuesday.

The intelligence official told Reuters that Taupik Rifqi, also known as Amil Irza, was tracked down on Oct. 2 at a budget hotel in Cotabato City.

"He is now undergoing tactical interrogation at a military intelligence facility in Manila," said the official, who asked not to be identified.

Rifqi's arrest came barely two weeks before U.S. President George W. Bush's eight-hour visit to Manila on Oct. 18 ahead of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Thailand.

A combined police and military team arrested Rifqi and brought him to the national police's Intelligence Group headquarters before he was transferred to a more secure compound at the armed forces' Intelligence Service.

The police source said Rifqi was believed to be among senior operatives of JI, a group linked by several intelligence agencies to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

JI has been blamed for some of the worst terror attacks in Indonesia, including the bombings that killed more than 200 people on the popular resort island of Bali a year ago.

Leaders of 10 Southeast Asian nations meeting in Bali this week are discussing ways to strengthen cooperation in the war against international terror.