Abu Sayyaf member nabbed in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Joint security units captured an Abu Sayyaf member, tagged in the Dos Palmas kidnapping 11 years ago, during a raid at his safehouse in Isabela City, Basilan Thursday morning, a military officer said.

Capt. Alberto Caber, Spokesman of Army’s 1st Division, identified the captured suspect as a certain Abu Jaid also known as Ajing.

He said the joint intelligence units of the military and Philippine National Police (PNP), local police and Special Forces arrested Abu Jaid at his hideout in Barangay Port Area, just few meters away from the pier in Isabela City.

Caber said the raid and arrest of Abu Jaid was carried out on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by the Basilan court for his involvement in the Dos Palmas kidnapping, particularly the abduction and murder of two workers of the Golden Harvest Plantation in Barangay Tairan, Lantawan town in 2001.

The two victims were beheaded and their decapitated heads were dumped in Barangay Cabunbata, just near the former camp of the Scout Ranger in Isabela City.

The captured suspect was immediately brought to a military camp for tactical debriefing before he was turned over to the police for proper disposition of the case.

Maj. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, 1st Division commander, commended the troops for their relentless hunt against the militant members in the province.

He said the operation will prevent the Abu Sayyaf group from regrouping and launch an attack on civilians and  government.