Authorities have arrested three men who allegedly planned to stage attacks in Metro Manila during the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Summit last week.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald dela Rosa presented the suspects in a press briefing at the PNP Headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Friday.
The persons were identified as Abdulgaffar Jikiri, Sadam Jhofar and Alim Sabtalin.
Dela Rosa reported the suspects were out to bomb public areas like malls and public parks but their plan was foiled.
The three were nabbed by operatives from the Quezon City Police District – Special Operations Unit, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) and the National Bureau of Investigation's Counter Terrorism Unit.
The suspects hail from Basilan.
Jikiri left the province last October 9 while Jhofar and Sabtalin arrived in Metro Manila three months ago.
They stayed at Salaam Compound in Barangay Culiat, Quezon City.
Reportedly seized from the suspects were some firearms, grenades and cellular phone units.
