Military exec says Abu Sayyaf members hiding in Zambo

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Security officials believe several Abu Sayyaf members have been hiding in this city following the twin arrest of two suspects last Saturday in separate hunt operations by police and militant intelligence units.

Col. Andrelino Colina, commander of the anti-terror military unit Task Force Zamboanga (TFZ), identified the arrested suspects as Haridjan Mussali Jinny alias Kim and Jumadil Jamran Usman alias Ondil, who were tagged to be involved in the kidnapping of six members if Jehovah’s Witness in 2002 in Patikul town, Sulu.

Jinny was arrested Saturday afternoon while on duty as a security guard in a store in Mercado Street in the old public market,  while Usman was nabbed the following day along the highway in Barangay Sinunuc, west of this city, according to Colina.

Both arrested suspects, while claiming innocence, have been placed under tactical interrogation as they were facing standing warrants of arrest issued by the court in connection with the kidnapping of the six Jehovah’s Witness members almost 12 years ago.

Colina said the suspects have escaped the continuous military operations in Sulu  by  disguising as residents of this city.

“Some of the suspects were just hiding here believing the operations are focused in the islands of Basilan and Sulu,” Colina told newsmen.

The military official said intelligence monitoring has been stepped up  to hunt the suspects who are still believed to be hiding in this city.