Abu Sayyaf in Sipadan raid nabbed in Zambo

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – An Abu Sayyaf member accused of taking part in the infamous Sidapan kidnapping 15 years ago has been arrested, according to a senior police official.

Chief Superintendent Miguel Antonio of the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO) identified the suspect as Munap Saimaran with aliases “Mentang Abdul Munap” and “Said.”

“The arrest of the suspect is part of our continuous and aggressive campaign against the Abu Sayyaf group,” he said.

Joint police and military security forces arrested Saimaran about 4:30 p.m. in a raid near the Zamboanga City Hall along Pablo Lorenzo Street.

Antonio said the suspect has a warrant of arrest issued by Sulu court Judge Ernesto Gutierrez for the crime of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom.

The suspect also has another standing warrant of arrest, issued by the Regional Trial Court in Pasig City, for 21 counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the kidnapping incident in Sipadan, Sabah.

The Abu Sayyaf group, in April 2000, reportedly barged in a dive resort island of Sipadan, taking 21 hostages, including 10 Malaysians, nine Europeans and two Filipino resort workers.

The victims were held captives for about five months in Sulu before releasing them in batches following payment of huge ransom in dollars.

Antonio said the captured suspect was brought to the Western Mindanao Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit for documentation and further tactical interrogation.