Abu who planned to kidnap Kris, Pacman arrested

MANILA, Philippines – An Abu Sayyaf member dispatched to Metro Manila allegedly to kidnap President Aquino’s sister Kris and conduct bombings in malls was arrested in Taguig City, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) announced yesterday.

Police said Sakur Mustakin, 44, with aliases Junior Mustakim and Junior Asarani Sawadjaan, participated in the kidnappings on Sipadan Island in Sabah, Malaysia in 2000.

Mustakin was also tagged in the kidnapping of six members of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Patikul, Sulu in 2002.

Mustakin carries a P900,000 bounty on his head, according to Senior Superintendent Ronald Lee, chief of the CIDG-National Capital Region.

Lee said Mustakin was nabbed by virtue of arrest warrants for kidnapping issued by the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 266 and Isabela, Basilan RTC Branch 1.

Reports said that Mustakin and other Abu Sayyaf bandits were deployed to Metro Manila early this year to sow terror and chaos during the election period.

The Abu Sayyaf reportedly planned to kidnap Aquino and senator-elect Manny Pacquiao supposedly to raise funds for the terrorist group.

Lee said Mustakin was reporting directly to Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron, alias Putol.

Amid reports of the Abu Sayyaf presence in Metro Manila, the CIDG activated Operation Plan Black Guardian to conduct surveillance in Maharlika Village, Taguig.

Mustakin was nabbed along Bayani Road in Taguig on May 10.

The CIDG announced the suspect’s arrest yesterday after subjecting him to tactical interrogation for weeks.

According to Lee, Mustakin initially cooperated in their interrogation and admitted his role in the Sipadan and Sulu kidnappings.

However, when asked by The STAR yesterday in his detention cell at the CIDG headquarters, Mustakin backtracked.

Lee said they would turn over Mustakin to the courts that issued the warrants for his arrest this week.