PAF, NBI nab alleged Abu Sayyaf member in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines - Members of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) intelligence unit and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) captured Monday a suspected Abu Sayyaf member tagged in the abduction of 10 plantation workers in Lantawan, Basilan in 2001.

PAF spokesman Lt. Col. Gerardo Zamudio Jr. said their intelligence personnel and NBI nabbed Toto Sali in Tandang Sora, Quezon City at around 5 p.m.

Zamudio said Sali, who was reportedly involved in the kidnapping of 10 employees of Golden Harvest Plantation in June 2001, had been residing in the Muslim community of Barangay Culiat in Quezon City.

“(Sali) has a standing warrant of arrest issued by Judge Leo Jay Principe of the Regional Trial Court Branch 1, 9th Judicial Region based in Basilan in connection with criminal cases of kidnapping and serious illegal detention,” Zamudio said.

He said Sali, who was identified by one of the victims, will be turned over to the court by the NBI and PAF.

PAF commanding general Lt. General Oscar Rabena assured the public that they will continue to intensify their operations against the Abu Sayyaf, which has links to the al-Qaeda terror network. The terror group has been suffering setbacks recently due to the capture and death of some of its key members.

Early this month, the PAF arrested Burrong Rasul Barro in Zamboanga City. Barro, who uses the alias “Abu Mohammad,” was tagged in the abduction of six Jehovah’s Witness members on Aug. 20, 2002 in Jolo, Sulu.

Last month, soldiers killed six Abu Sayyaf members, including senior leader Albader Parad, in an encounter in Maimbung, Sulu. Parad was tagged in a series of kidnappings, including that of Red Cross workers Marie Jean Lacaba, Italian national Eugenio Vagni, and Swiss national Andreas Notter last year.

In the same month, security forces also nabbed suspected Abu Sayyaf member Jumadail Arad, who is linked to the abduction of Protestant missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham in Palawan in 2001.

Government troops have also foiled an attempt by Abu Sayyaf allies to stage a series of bombings in Metro Manila with the capture of Abdulrahman Samuel, Joher Ibrahim, and Mujahid Ibrahim in Taguig City early this month. The three are members of a terror cell led by Abdul Basit Usman, who is believed to have connections with the Jemaah Islamiya and the Abu Sayyaf.

There were also reports that Furuji Indama, an Abu Sayyaf leader who plotted a series of kidnappings in the south, was wounded in a clash with the military in Basilan this month.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has stepped up its drive against the bandits to substantially reduce their capability to launch attacks within the next two months. Latest estimates by the military showed that there are around 400 remaining Abu Sayyaf members.