29 Sayyaf arrested in Patikul raid

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  – Government forces arrested 29 members of the Abu Sayyaf group during a raid on Tuesday in a village of Patikul town, Sulu, the military said yesterday.

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, said combined military and police forces staged the raid around 5:30 a.m. in Barangay Bangkal.

No firefight occurred as the suspects did not resist arrest, Sobejana said.

He said the suspects were mostly members of the Ajang-ajang, a faction of the Abu Sayyaf that served as spotter for a kidnapping target.

The raid was launched following the release Monday of a nine-year-old kidnap victim.

Sobejana said they received information on the presence of the Abu Sayyaf involved in kidnapping in the village.

“We did the operational plan and with my joint forces and the police we were able to apprehend 29 individuals,” Sobejana said.

He said witnesses and the victim positively identified four of the suspects.

Sobejana said police have been handling the case to determine the suspects’ possible involvement in other crimes.