The Philippines said Monday it would deport an elderly Iraqi man described as a scientist for Hamas and accused of helping the Palestinian resistance group manufacture anti-occupation missiles.
Iraq tipped off the Philippines about the presence of Taha Mohammad al-Jabori who was arrested on Sunday national police chief Ronald Dela Rosa told reporters.
However the arrest was due to visa problems rather than any evidence of militant activity the police chief emphasized.
“He’s an illegal alien his visa is expired so he has to be deported right away” Mr Dela Rosa said.
“He admitted being a member of Hamas. He’s a chemist and he has been responsible for improving the rocket technology of Hamas in firing their missiles from their area towards the other side for Israel” he added.
The scientist will be deported to Iraq.
The police chief said it was the first time Philippine authorities had dealt with an alleged member of Hamas.
Al-Jabori had mostly stayed in Manila and nearby provinces and told police he had no intention of committing any terror act in the Philippines the police chief said.
