ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines– A captured Abu Sayyaf sub-leader – tagged in the Lamitan siege in Basilan in 2001 – has been transferred to the city jail here, security officials reported yesterday.
Senior Inspector Dahlan Samuddin, spokesperson for the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO-9), said Edwin Sawaldi alias Nur Hassan was taken to the Zamboanga City Reformatory Center last Friday.
Sawaldi was captured by members of anti-terror Task Force Zamboanga and military and police intelligence agents last Wednesday at the port area, said TFZ chief Col. Andrelino Colina.
The suspect, who carries a P600,000 bounty, has pending warrants for 12 counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention and ransom charges.
Aside from the Lamitan siege, the suspect was also tagged in an attack on a plantation in Lantawan, Basilan.