Nabbed Tunisian says police ‘forced’ him to say he’s from ISIS

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa (right, foreground) presents to media Tunisian Fehmi Lassqued (in orange), an alleged leader of the terrorist group ISIS. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

“They forced me to say I am from ISIS,” arrested Tunisian national Fehmi Lassqued said Monday after undergoing inquest proceedings before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Lassqued – who, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP), is an ISIS recruiter – was arrested along Malate, Manila last Feb. 16 with his Filipina companion Anabel Moncera Salipada. They are both facing a case for violation of Illegal Possession of Firearms and Explosives.

READ: ISIS suspect, companion face bomb, gun raps

“They [the police] put for me [sic] many weapons. I don’t know what it is already and they say to me ‘you must say this is yours’ and forced me to do that,” Lassqued said.

Tunisian national Fehmi Lassqued was presented by the police to the media on Monday. Photo by PNP-PIO

He admitted that his passport is fake but pointed out that he has no intention of doing anything “bad” in the Philippines.

READ: Suspected ISIS leader arrested in Manila

“If someone wanted to attack, he will wait two years to attack? If I travel always, would I go with airport with these things (bomb components, firearms) always with me [sic]? They (police) lie to you,” Lassqued added.

Lassqued said he is half Tunisian, half Libyan but born in the United Arab Emirates.

He said he lived in Syria, as well as in Egypt and Dubai. /je