ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf group, reportedly involved in the mass abduction of European and Malaysian tourists off Sipadan 18 years ago, was arrested in law enforcement operation Friday in a coastal village here, according to police official.
The captured suspect was identified as Hadji Faizal Radjae, 54, a resident of Sitio Logpond, Barangay Libertad, Tungawan town, Zamboanga Sibugay, said Chief Superintendent Billy Beltran, director of Police Regional Office 9 (PRO).
Beltran said Radjae was arrested by the joint police combat operatives of 904th Mobile Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion led by Chief Inspector Jerry Alvarez, Regional Intelligence Unit and Zamboanga City Police Office Intelligence division about 3 p.m. at Sitio Marangan, Barangay Tumitus, a coastal village east of this city.
He said the operation was conducted with a warrant of arrest issued by the 9th Regional Trial Court, Branch 4, based in Parang town, Sulu dated Sept. 28, 2000 for kidnapping with serious illegal detention in connection with the Sipadan kidnapping.
Beltran said based on the tactical interrogation and intelligence report, Radjae was then a sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf under the group of slain leader Ghalib Andang, alias "Commander Robot," at the height of the Sipadan kidnapping incident in April 2000 in Sulu.
It will be recalled the Abu Sayyaf group seized at least 11 Malaysians, nine Europeans and two Filipino resort workers during Easter holiday in April 2000 from a Sipadan dive resort off Malaysia. They brought the victims to Sulu before they were freed in batches after five months in captivity following huge ransom in dollars.
Radjae was also tagged as one of the perpetrators of the bombing attacks in Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. He was also known as an active member of the Abu Sayyaf Terrorist Group, Lawless Elements and kidnap-for-ransom group, according to Beltran.
He said the suspect was currently detained and under tight security in Zamboanga Police Station 11 while waiting for the processing of his commitment order.