An alleged terrorist identified as Abdelhakim Labidi Adib, a Spanish national, arrives at the Department of Justice in Manila for an inquest procedure on Wednesday. He was arrested on January 22, 2018, at a checkpoint in Barangay Maluso, Basilan. Found in his possession were a rifle and hand grenade, numerous identification cards, cell phones, blasting caps and detonating devices. ABS-CBN News
An alleged terrorist identified as Abdelhakim Labidi Adib, a Spanish national, arrives at the Department of Justice in Manila for an inquest procedure on Jan. 24, 2018. ABS-CBN News file photo
The suspected Spanish terrorist facing charges for illegal possession of explosives following his arrest in Maluso, Basilan has denied the charges lodged by the Army Special Forces Company before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Abdelhakim Labidi Adib, 20, attended Wednesday's preliminary investigation into the case, and submitted a 10-page counter-affidavit debunking the military's claim that he is an Abu Sayyaf Group sympathizer and possessed improvised explosives devices (IEDs), two grenades, and various IED components upon his arrest at a checkpoint in Barangay Townsite on January 22.
"I vehemently deny the Formal Charge against me considering that the complaint of 14th Special Forces Company-Philippine Army is without basis in law and in fact… I vehemently deny and assert that I don't own and I have nothing to do with the alleged recovered evidence which are the hand grenade and the alleged [IED]," Adib's counter-affidavit stated.
Adib claimed he was not arrested at a checkpoint, but by seven civilian-clothed men with long firearms. He also claimed his companion, whom he identified as "Abuzaid" or "Abuzayd," a Yakan, did not escape, contrary to the military's claim.
Adib said those who arrested them beat up his companion, whom he has not heard from since.
Adib also pointed out that the bag presented as evidence against him - a backpack - is not the same bag he was carrying at the time of arrest.
While he admits going with "Abuzaid" or "Abuzayd" to the jungles of Basilan to purportedly be with the latter's tribe, Adib said he is merely a tourist who wanted to come to the Philippines to marry a Filipina.
Adib, an overstaying alien, arrived in the Philippines from Switzerland on October 10, 2017. His visa expired on Dec. 8, 2017. His passport also bore stamps of Tunisia and Morocco. Aside from Manila, he said he was able to set foot in Davao and Cagayan de Oro City.
In its complaint, the military said, "Abdelhakim Labidi Adib is a known Abu Sayyaf sympathizer and ardent supporter for the establishment of an Islamic Caliphate here in the Philippines."
The case against Adib is now submitted for resolution, said Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong and Assistant State Prosecutor Rodan Parrocha.
Department of Justice, DOJ, Abdelhakim Labidi Adib, Army Special Forces Company, terrorism, Spain