ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Government security forces captured two suspected Abu Sayyaf militants including an alleged sub-leader tagged in the 2001 Lamitan siege, in separate operations Wednesday night in this city.
The suspects were identified as Nur Hassan, alias Hassan and Jemhar Halillula Alih, who uses the aliases Memay Alih, Ustadz Haepa and Ustadz Wahid.
Authorities said Hassan is wanted for his alleged participation in the string of kidnapping incidents and attack on a hospital in Lamitan, Basilan in June 2001.
Hassan was captured inside the compound of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) near the downtown area at around 6 p.m. by members of Task Force Zamboanga (TFZ), Army intelligence and the police.
Alih was arrested at around 11:15 p.m in his safehouse in the village of Taluksangay.
TFZ chief Col. Andrelino Colina said Hassan’s arrest was based on warrants issued by two Isabela City courts for 12 counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention.
Colina said the cases against Hassan included the Lamitan siege and the kidnapping of workers in Lantawan town in the same year.
The suspect was brought to the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime (PCTC) at the police headquarters for documentation.
City police director Senior Superintendent Angelito Casimiro said Alih has pending arrest warrants for carjacking and attempted murder.
The arresting team recovered a fragmenta-tion grenade and a pistol pouch from Alih.
The suspect is detained at the city police station.