09 October 2017•Update: 13 October 2017
By Roy Ramos
ZAMBOANGA CITY
The Philippines on Sunday vowed full cooperation with the United States on the extradition of Dr. Russel Salic, the Filipino doctor tagged in the plotting of Daesh attacks in New York City in 2016.
“The Philippines shares information and extends full cooperation with partners on matters pertaining to terrorism, and in the case of Dr. [Russel] Salic will include initiating extradition proceedings being requested by the US,” according to a statement by presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella as quoted by Inquirer News.
Abella added that the Filipino preliminary investigation of the case against Dr. Salic will continue at the same time as extradition proceedings are being processed.
The Filipino doctor, who used to practice in Amai Pakpak Medical Center in strife-torn Southern Philippines’ Marawi City, was reportedly involved in several terror attacks through providing funds and donations to terrorists in Middle East, US and Malaysia from 2014-2016.
Salic is currently facing charges along with the militant Maute group for the abduction of six sawmill workers, two of whom were later beheaded in April last year in Marawi’s neighboring Butig town in Lanao del Norte province.
Salic, who surrendered to Philippine authorities in Manila last April, has been under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II also confirmed Manila’s coordination with US as the Department of Justice is readying processing the latter’s request.
“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 PI (preliminary investigation) in the meantime will continue,” said Aguirre in a statement quoted by state-run Philippine News Agency.
Linked to the militant group that is battling against government forces in Marawi for more than four months now, Salic has been requested to be turned over to the U.S. for his alleged funding and plotting of the Daesh terror group to carry out terrorist attacks in New York.
Salic allegedly wired $423 to two other suspects purposely for the attacks.
