Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9) — Malacañang says the Justice Department is working on the extradition of a Filipino suspect allegedly involved in a foiled terror plot in the United States.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said, “They’re working on it. But there’s no definite date that’s been given.”
A 37-year-old doctor, Russel Salic is said to have provided funds to three individuals trying to hatch a terror plot in New York City last year, in the name of ISIS. A report from CNN says the U.S. is seeking to have him extradited from Manila.
Salic is already facing criminal charges over the kidnapping of six sawmill workers in Lanao del Sur last year and he is also being linked to the Maute group.
He surrendered to authorities in April.
B/Gen. Restituto Padilla, spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said, “Earlier, we understood that he may have been part of those who frequented the Butig mountains and treated Maute rebels who were wounded.”
“Bukod dito, based on information that was also gathered from Interpol and other allied intelligence agencies, meron pa rin siyang kaugnayan sa mga iba pang grupo sa iba’t ibang dako ng mundo, kasama na diyan ang Middle East at ang United States,” he added.
[Translation: Apart from this, based on information that was also gathered from Interpol and other intelligence agencies, he still has connections with other groups in other parts of the world, among them the Middle East and the United States.]
Earlier, AFP Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año said Salic is under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation since he surrendered last April.
READ: DOJ to begin extradition proceedings for Filipino suspect in NY plot
“He was involved in terror activities by providing funds and donations to suspected terrorists in the Middle East, U.S. And Malaysia from 2014 up to 2016. (He) has been under watch and surveillance for his suspicious activities in coordination with allied foreign intel agencies,” Año said.
