Abu Sayyaf in Lamitan siege nabbed

ZAMBOANGA CITY ,Philippines  – A suspected member of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf alleged to be involved in the siege of a church and hospital compound in Lamitan a decade ago, was arrested over the weekend in Basilan.

Col. Alex Marcario, commander of the Special Operation Task Force-Basilan (SOTF-B), identified the suspect as Kaneh Malikil.

Macario said members of the SOTF-B, composed of scout rangers, special forces and infantry units, cornered Malikil at his hideout in Barangay Libog, Sumisip town last Saturday. The soldiers recovered a .45 caliber pistol handgun from the suspect.

“The suspected Abu Sayyaf member was involved in the Lamitan siege,” Macario said, referring to the attack of the Abu Sayyaf Group led by its slain leader Khadaffy Janjalani, of St. Peter’s Church and a hospital compound in Lamitan on June 2, 2001 before taking hostage four nurses and a hospital staff while escaping with their Dos Palmas captives.

Macario said the troops also captured two M16 rifles with attached two M203 launchers in Barangay Danig in the boundary of Lamitan and Ungkaya Pukan towns while pursuing the rebels in the area.

He said they will continue with their hot-pursuit operations against the Abu Sayyaf and kidnap-for-ransom groups using the province as their haven.