Sayyaf with P1M bouny captured in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A mid-level leader of the Abu Sayyaf group was captured by joint police intelligence units and commandos during a raid Thursday morning in his safehouse in Basilan, a security official said.

The suspect, which has a P1-million bounty reward on his head,  was identified  as Abdulla Kallitut, according to the Regional Intelligence Unit 9 (RIU) in its report to Chief Superintendent Juanito Vaño.

The joint personnel of RIU under Task Force Sanglahi, backed by the police commandos of the 53rd Special Action Company of the Special Action Force (SAF), Basilan police and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) cornered Kallitut in his hideout at Barangay Riverside, Isabela City about 8:55 a.m. Thursday.

The suspect has a standing warrant of arrest for nine counts of murder issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 1, 9th Judicial Region, Isabela City.

The suspect, who did not resist during the raid, was immediately brought to the Regional Intelligence Unit headquarters for further tactical debriefing and determine his other participation in the terrorism attacks in Basilan province.