Abu Sayyaf arms supplier sentenced to up to 330 years in jail

The politician who’s also a supplier of weapons for the terrorist group Abu Sayaff has been sentenced for 11 terms of reclusion perpetua or up to 330 years of imprisonment at the New Bilibid Prison.

Unding Kenneth Isa has been found guilty of illegal possession of explosives, sentencing him to more than three centuries in prison.

Unding was arrested in September 2016 in Barangay West Crame, San Juan City together with another three alleged suppliers after several days of surveillance by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

His house was only at the back of the Philippine National Police national headquarters.

After his arrest, the Philippine National Police presented him, together with the firearms confiscated by the authorities to the press.

Authorities confiscated M203 grenade launchers, M14 and M16 rifles worth six million pesos which believed that scheduled to be sent to the terrorist group.

He also ran for Vice Governor of Sulu in the same year, but defeated by his opponent Nurunisah Tan.

According to CIDG-ATCU chief Supt. Roque Merdegia Jr. the court didn’t believed the alibi of Unding that he was only visitor to the house that raided by the authorities.

“Ang kaniyang depensa una ay hindi kaniya ang baril, at diumano ay bisita lamang siya doon sa bahay ng ni-raid ng CIDG d’yan sa likod ng Camp Crame, ngunit wala naman siyang maipakita na patunay na siya ay bisita lamang doon. In fact, nakuha nga namin siya sa master’s bedroom and at the same time ay d’yan naman nag-aaral ang mga anak mo malapit sa iyong bahay,” Merdegia told reporters.

The authorities also discovered that Unding’s firearms supply came from Manila and Cavite then he would send it to the Abu Sayaff Group to use for terror attacks and kidnap for ransom activities.

“Sa aming informant dati, ang suspek ay siya umano ang nagsu-supply ng armas sa mga Abu Sayyaf at mga warlords sa Mindanao. Dito siya kumukuha ng iba’t ibang armas sa ka-Maynilaan at ibini-biyahe niya papuntang Sulu, Basilan at iba pang lugar sa Mindanao,” Merdegia said.

The fate of Unding is a warning to the other supplier of Abu Sayaff group that the authorities are working hard to weaken the forces of all terrorist group in the Philippines.