A Jordanian national tagged as a former henchman of Osama bin Laden’s brother-in-law is set to be deported by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for illegally entering the country.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said 51-year-old Mahmoud Afif Abdeljalil was now in government custody following his arrest by joint operatives of the BI, military and police in Zamboanga City on July 4.
“[H]e has no record of arrival after he was arrested and deported in 2003 for being an undesirable alien,” the BI chief said in a statement.
Authorities started monitoring the Jordanian’s activities in the country when he and his Algerian companion were stopped at a military checkpoint last year.
In the course of the surveillance, it was confirmed that Abdeljalil had been unlawfully staying in the country. Morente then issued a mission order that led to his arrest.
On questioning, Abdeljalil admitted being deported by the BI in 2003 following his involvement in terror activities under the name of Mahmood Afif.
Authorities said Abdeljalil served as the point man of Mohammed Jamal Khalifa, a Saudi businessman and brother-in-law of Bin Laden, in managing several charity organizations that funneled money to the al-Qaida and the Abu Sayyaf Group.
Abdeljalil returned to the Philippines in 2007, he admitted to authorities.