Abu Sayyaf member falls in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Government security forces captured an Abu Sayyaf bandit tagged in kidnapping and killing, during a pursuit operation on Monday in a village of Patikul town, Sulu, according to military official.

The military identified the Abu Sayyaf member as Junni Jumala, who was caught after being spotted by residents in Barangay Umangay, Patikul town.

Col. Alan Arrojado, chief of the Joint Task Group Sulu, said the villagers immediately alerted the community police action center of Jumala's presence in the village.

Arrojado said the local police then alerted the troops from the 35th Infantry Battalion for joint operation that led to the arrest of Jumala about 1:30 p.m. Monday.

The security forces recovered from Jumala a .38 caliber revolver with 18 rounds of live ammunition.

“Junni Jumala is responsible for the ambush of Vice Mayor Jun Tarsum last December 2015 in Patikul,” Arrojado said.

He said the captured suspect was also a member of the Abu Sayyaf's assassin squad and was involved in kidnapping.