AN alleged suspect in the plot to kidnap presidential sister Kris Aquino was arrested last week by a combined team of military intelligence agents and police operatives in Laguna.
The suspect, who was reportedly a member of the terrorist group Rajah Sulayman Group (RJM), which the government has listed as “inactive” as a result of the series of arrests of its members in the past years, was nabbed by members of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces and PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
A report by GMA 7 identified the suspect as Reynaldo Vasquez Ilao, resident of Block 5, Lot 42, Zenia Street, Elvinda Village in Barangay Nueva, San Pedro, Laguna.
The report said the alleged member of the RJM was arrested by a composite team of policemen and soldiers on April 26 during a raid at his residence.
The military and the PNP refused to confirm the arrest.
The alleged plan to kidnap Kris Aquino was disclosed earlier by President Aquino himself, although he did not identify the group, adding the same plan exists against boxer and Rep. Manny Paquiao of Sarangani.
Paquiao, who is running for senator under the ticket of Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, dismissed the report, but added he is looking after his own safety.
The President’s revelation about the plot to kidnap his sister followed criticisms of the younger Aquino’s use of a military helicopter in one of her campaign sorties for administration presidential candidate Manuel A. Roxas II.
The Air Force, however, defended the use of its helicopter by the presidential sibling, saying she is part of the First family. The report said the arrested RJM member also planned to carry out bombings in Metro Manila, along with the group’s head, Mikhail Abrera alias Abdul Asiz, who was arrested in Zamboanga City on April 16.
The reported plan to attack the capital was allegedly tied to the elections, which the National Police and the military said is free, so far, from any threat, especially after the police created a security contingent for the polls, with an initial 3,000 members.
The PNP and the military are expected to raise their alert levels this week in preparation for the national elections.