Philippines arrests 2 suspected Daesh-linked militants

By Hader Glang

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (AA) - A Kuwaiti and a Syrian have been arrested for their suspected links to Daesh militant group in the country's southeastern Metro Manila, officials said.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre presented to the media Kuwaiti Husayn al-Dhafiri and Syrian Rajaf Zina, who were arrested on Mar. 25 on 28th Street at the upscale Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

During a news conference in Manila, Aguirre said Al-Dhafiri is known to have used the aliases Warsh Al-Kuwaiti and Abu Muslim Al-Kuwaiti.

Zina, who is said to be the wife of the Kuwaiti national, is pregnant.

Authorities said the two suspects traveled to Cebu and Davao in January this year, where they stayed for three and four days respectively.

According to Aguirre, the two foreigners failed to present any immigration document during verification at the immigration’s head office.

"Al-Dhafiri has links to terrorism and is believed to pose a threat to the national security of the Philippines," ABS-CBN quoted Aguirre as saying.

The two suspects made "many" trips to the Philippines in 2016, and that the Kuwaiti government had cancelled Al-Dhafiri's passport, Aguirre said.

Al-Dhafiri is believed to have been involved in explosives manufacturing and was possibly on operational planning against Kuwait. He would be deported to Kuwait while Zina would be deported to Qatar.