The Department of Justice announced October 8 that it is already preparing the documents of the Filipino doctor involved in a foiled terrorist attack in New York’s subway and Times Square for his extradition to the United States for his trial.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II announced the move after the US Justice Department requested for the extradition of 37-year-old Russell Salic.
“It only means that we have to begin the extradition proceedings being requested. We have a process to be followed and this has been done many times in the past. The preliminary investigation [of Salic], in the meantime, will continue,” Aguirre said in a statement.
Salic, together with 19-year-old Canadian Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy and 19-year-old American Talha Haroon, is facing charges in the US.
Their plan was foiled after an undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation agent had a cover up as a supporter of IS and communicated with the three suspects.
Salic allegedly funded the attack after transferring $243 to the other suspects in May last year. US documents said Salic sent the money from the Philippines because he would not gain attention from it.
Salic was already accused before of allegedly funding various terrorist groups inside and outside the country. He is also facing charges of kidnapping and murder for allegedly abducting sawmill workers in Lanao del Norte.
He surrendered to authorities back in April after finding out that a warrant for an arrest had been issued for him with the knowledge coming from Interpol, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief General Eduardo Año said.
Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella confirmed that Salic is currently under the custody of National Bureau of Investigation.
“Salic, said to be the physician attending to the Maute group, is currently undergoing preliminary investigation [in] the Department of Justice over kidnapping and murder charges,” Inquirer quoted Abella as saying.
Source: The Philippine Daily Inquirer
Photo credit: The Manila Times
