Suspected Abu Sayyaf militant nabbed in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) - A suspected member of the Abu Sayyaf rebel group was captured in a raid on an island near Zamboanga city, the police said today.

Chief Inspector Ariel Hesca, a police spokesman, identified the suspect as Abdulhalik Ajibon, alias Alex Ajibon. Ajibon, 50, was captured Monday on Sacol Island, about half a nautical mile east of Zamboanga City.

The spokesman said a police intelligence unit and combat police forces raided the house of Ajibon at 4 p.m. local time (0800 GMT). The suspected militant was apprehended with a warrant of arrest issued by a local court for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives.

Pieces of blasting caps, used as the primary explosive of an improvised bomb, were found in the raid.

Philippine security forces have intensified a crackdown on Abu Sayyaf in the city after intelligence shows that the group is plotting an attack due to an impending government's military offensive on the southern Sulu island to rescue hostages held by the militants.  

Abu Sayyaf, with about 300 to 400 gunmen, is believed to be holding 12 hostages, including five foreigners.