Abu, 2 kidnap suspects captured

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Police and military security forces captured a Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf member and two other suspects in separate operations in this city and the Zamboanga peninsula, officials said yesterday.

Abu Sayyaf member Abdu Sahibul was captured during a raid last Wednesday by combined police, military intelligence forces and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on a search for explosives in the coastal village of Sampaloc Drive, Barangay Talon-Talon.

Chief Insp. Edilberto Alvarez, chief of the City Police Intelligence Division, said the raid was conducted based on a search warrant issued by a local court.

Alvarez said Sahibul was reportedly involved in the foiled kidnapping of Armando Ituralde in October 2015 in Talon-Talon.

Recovered from the suspect were two fragmentation grenades and six large sachets of shabu and other drug paraphernalia.

Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. said the raid was part of efforts to neutralize the Abu Sayyaf.

In Zamboanga Sibugay, security forces captured two members of the kidnap-for-ransom group last Sunday.

Abdurahman Sakilan alias Bobong Sakilan, 28, and Pujik Ismael alias Pujik Sarahento, 21, both residents of Sitio Gangit, Barangay Mamagon, Naga town were taken by police in Ipil town, Chief Supt. Billy Beltran, Police Regional Office 9, director said.

Sakilan is facing murder charges while Sarahento has been arrested for possession of explosives.

Beltran said the two suspects were involved in a series of kidnappings, highway robberies victimizing rural transit buses and passenger vans, carjacking, extortion and sea piracy.

The suspects were also tagged in the shooting of a senior military intelligence personnel in Kabasalan town and policemen in Naga town.

According to Beltran, Sakilan was also listed as a high-value target in the illegal drug operations on the provincial level.