Abu Sayyaf man tagged in 2001 kidnappings nabbed in Manila

MANILA, Philippines — An alleged member of the Abu Sayyaf, wanted for the kidnapping of workers from the Golden Harvest plantation in Basilan in 2001, was arrested at a safehouse in Ermita, Manila on Sunday.

Biznar Salabudin, alias Abu Talha and Abdulrahman Daiyung, is reportedly a member of the terror group’s faction under the late Isnilon Hapilon, said Director Guillermo Eleazar, National Capital Region Police Office chief.   

Salabudin was the subject of an arrest warrant for kidnapping issued by the Basilan regional trial court.

Salabudin and other members of Hapilon’s faction allegedly kidnapped workers from the plantation in Lantawan town and beheaded some of them.

The suspect was identified by the survivors, who are now under the government’s witness protection program.

Eleazar is expected to present Salabudin in a press conference at Camp Bagong Diwa today.

Last month, alleged Abu Sayyaf members Harub Jaljalis and Pinky Ani Hadjinulla were arrested in Zamboanga City in connection with the kidnappings.