Abu Sayyaf member tagged in Lamitan siege captured

ZAMBOANGA CITY - A suspected Abu Sayyaf member tagged in the 2001 Lamitan siege was captured by security forces in Lantawan, Basilan, according to police on Friday.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) district office here said Aning Alamsirul alias Raham or Kaiser was arrested by its operatives and elements of the Special Action Force (SAF), Philippine Army and Philippine Air Force intelligence units.

The CIDG said the suspect has a standing warrant of arrest issued by Basilan Judge Danilo Bucoy in connection with his alleged involvement in the Lamitan siege in June 2001.

The Abu Sayyaf Group led by then slain leaders Kahaddy Janjalani and Aldam Tilao alias Abu Sabaya with 20 tourists, including three Americans, in tow raided the hospital compound in Lamitan and took four more nurses and hospital staff as captives.

Alamsirul is undergoing tactical interrogation at the CIDG regional headquarters in the city.