Sayyaf leader surrenders, arrested in Misuari’s house

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Authorities arrested last night Abu Sayyaf leader Indang Susukan at the house of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari here.

Southern Mindanao regional police chief Brig. Gen. Filmore Escobal said Susukan turned himself in at Misuari’s house where the Abu Sayyaf leader was reported to have sought refuge since arriving in this city last week.

Misuari himself reportedly picked up Susukan in Sulu and brought him here allegedly to seek an audience with President Duterte who has been staying in the city for over a week now.

“Susukan did not resist arrest. He cooperated with authorities when he was served the warrants of arrest against him,” Escobal said.

Susukan, who reportedly belonged to one of the main Abu Sayyaf factions in the Sulu islands led by Hatib Hajjan Sawadjaan, was allegedly among those who participated in the Zamboanga City siege in 2013 led by Misuari himself.

Authorities said Susukan was reported to have been killed in an earlier encounter with government forces in Western Mindanao.

Susukan had been involved in several ransom kidnappings in Sabah since 2013. Among his victims were Chinese national Gao Huayun and Filipina Marcy Darawan, who were kidnapped at Singamata Reef Resort in Semporna waters on April 2, 2014.

He was also said to have been involved in the kidnapping of Malaysian Chan Sai Chun from his fish farm in Kampung Sapang in Kunak on June 16, 2014 as well as Sabah restaurant owner Thien Nyuk Fan, who was snatched from the Ocean King Seafood Restaurant in Sandakan on May 14, 2015.

Susukan was allegedly the key kidnapper and executioner of 39-year-old Malaysian engineer Bernard Then, who was beheaded in November 2015.