Abu Sayyaf kidnap plot foiled

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The military anti-terror unit foiled a kidnapping plot of the Abu Sayyaf Group after two suspected members were captured in a brief firefight shortly before midnight Friday in a coastal village here, officials said yesterday.

Government troops also raided a suspected ASG hideout and recovered an arms cache and ammunition abandoned by bandits in Indanan, Sulu yesterday.

1Lt. Steffani Cacho, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesman, identified the two captured suspected kidnappers as Hassan Abejarin and Jay Alpad. 

The two were captured by the Task Force Zamboanga raiding team under Col. Santiago Baluyot in coordination with the police forces at the coastal village of Mariki, barely three kilometers away from the city proper.

Government forces launched the operation following information and combined police and military intelligence report that Abejarin and Alpad arrived here.

Cacho said a firefight ensued for 10 minutes before troops were able to corner the suspects.

The suspects were the second big catch of the government after President Arroyo directed police and military units to intensify operations against kidnappers in Western Mindanao.

Further, authorities in Basilan reported that a nine-year-old kidnap victim was sighted by intelligence operatives being moved around the Tuburan area.

The kidnappers were demanding a P4-million ransom for the victim’s release.

In Sulu, Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga, Westmincom chief, said members of the 4th Marine Battalion Landing Team under the Joint Task Force Comet swooped down on the hideout of ASG sub-leader Gafur Jumdail in Barangay Manggis at 9 a.m. yesterday and recovered high-powered guns and ammunitions.

The bandits, however, escaped after detecting troops’ movement.

Marines recovered five high-powered guns, including assault and sniper rifles, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

Allaga said the operation, was a follow-up of the Sulu police offensive wherein soldiers encountered the group of Jumdail on Dec. 3 in Maimbung town.

“This development in Sulu is a positive step towards our fight against terrorism and in neutralizing the Abu Sayyaf Group. The recovery of firearms and ammunition will effectively cripple the group as these are of great operational value to them. This is also a great psychological blow on their ability to fight,” Allaga said.