Man nabbed in Baguio not the real ‘Abu Tagalog’

The man, who was arrested in Baguio City last week for his alleged role in the 2001 kidnapping of Filipinos and foreigners in a Palawan resort, is not the notorious Abu Tagalog, a ranking police official said yesterday.

"He is not the notorious and original Abu Tagalog. The real Abu Tagalog has been in police custody for three years now," said the official on condition of anonymity.

"In fact, the witness who helped the police capture Abu Tagalog had received the $20,000 bounty," he added.

The source said there was an apparent lapse on the part of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) team which failed to check the background of Amil Salih alias Abu Tagalog whom they arrested in Baguio City.

The official identified the real Abu Tagalog as Mark Gumbahali, who also used the alias Abdel Oreña. He was arrested on Oct. 17, 2002 in his house in Upper Bicutan, Taguig.

"This Abu Tagalog (Gumbahali) was really involved in the (Palawan kidnapping). He is now (being tried) for kidnapping for ransom and illegal detention," the source added.

"Abu Tagalog is a generic alias. Many use the alias and arresting policemen failed to realize that," he said.

"In fact, we are hunting two more criminals using the alias of Abu Tagalog," he said.

According to reports, the NCRPO team arrested Salih, a native of Basilan and a volunteer kitchen helper, at the local Almaarif Education Center, the largest Islamic institute in Northern Luzon.