‘Abu Sayyaf member’ falls in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines — Police arrested a suspected member of the bandit Abu Sayyaf Group along M.J. Cuenco Avenue in Barangay Tinago, Cebu City yesterday by virtue of a warrant of arrest for charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

In a press briefing yesterday, Brigadier General Valeriano De Leon, Police Regional Office-7 director, announced the arrest of Jimmy Marababol, a native of Zamboanga del Norte and a suspected member of the Abu Sayyaf Group, which is linked to Jemaah Islamiah.

In September 2017, Marababol was tagged as a principal suspect, together with two others, in the kidnapping of Jeister “Jade” Quimbo, son of Mayor Eddie Quimbo of Labason, Zamboanga Del Norte.

De Leon said that the kidnap victim was released only last December 30, 2019 after the family had paid a total of P23 million in ransom money to the Idang Susukan group, an ally of the Abu Sayyaf.

“He (Marababol) pledged allegiance in 2018 to Dualah Islamiyah,” said De Leon.

The group of Islamiyah was under the leadership of Black Moro or Jamilon Wahab, who was killed in 2018.

De Leon said they are still verifying if Marababol is still active with the group considering that the organization had already been dismantled.

He added that Marababol stayed in Mandaue City for a year and established a business there.

“He was transacting a volume of rice. That is subject for another investigation,” De Leon said, adding that the suspect was also engaged in charcoal mining.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Arturo Brual, chief of Regional Intelligence Division that led the arrest of Marababol, said that they were already monitoring the suspect’s movement after receiving reports that he was hiding in Cebu.

Brual said the arrest was made possible after information from the contacts of Marababol.

Follow-up investigation is being conducted to check if Marababol is living alone or with other ASG members.

Meanwhile, De Leon assured the Cebuanos that Cebu is still safe despite the arrest of an ASG member.

“Everything is under control. We are safe in the region,” he said.

Marababol’s arrest was made possible through the coordination of the National Police Intelligence Group, Regional Intelligence Unit-7, Military Intelligence Group, Regional Intelligence Unit-9, Regional Intelligence Division-7, Labason Municipal Police Station and Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Police Office.  JMD (FREEMAN)