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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider 2 suspected Abu Sayyaf members arrested in Taguig

2 suspected Abu Sayyaf members arrested in Taguig

Published Jul 13, 2021 12:11 pm

Two suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), tagged by the Philippines as a terrorist organization, were arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Taguig Saturday.

The suspects, Taupik Galbun alias Pa Wahid, and Saik Galbun alias Pa Tanda, were arrested at about 10:50 p.m. at Block 124, Lot 9, Phase 8, Sitio Imelda, Upper Bicutan by joint operatives of the Southern Police District (SPD), National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (JTF-NCR) and Taguig police.

Suspected ASG members Taupik Galbun (left) and Saik Galbun (PNP)

The two suspects were presented to the media Tuesday by NCRPO chief Police Major Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. and SPD Director Jimil Macaraeg.

According to the PNP, Taupik, 40, who works as a construction worker in Taguig, was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest without bail for six counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom issued by Judge Toribio Ilao Jr. of the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 266 in November 2009, and another warrant of arrest for kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom.

Taupik is suspected to be a member of ASG of the group of the late Basilan-based Isnilon Hapilon and Bakal Hapilon. During the crackdown in Mindanao, the group of Hapilon and Sahiron merged to conduct a series of kidnappings and the suspect served as an outer guard for the kidnap victims in Sulu and Basilan.

The PNP added that Taupik was involved in the beheading of Primitivo Falcansantos, Crisanto Suela and Guillermo Sobero in 2001. He was also tagged in the abduction of three teachers of Landang Gua Elementary School, Sacol Island in Zamboanga City during their return trip from work onboard a boat with seven other teachers on Jan. 23, 2009 along the municipal waters of Zamboanga.

Taupik Galbun is being sought for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of six members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who were doing door-to-door sales of cosmetic products on Aug. 20, 2002 in Patikul, Sulu. Two of those abducted were beheaded while the four remaining victims were rescued by the military after weeks of operations.

On Tuesday, one of the witnesses in the August 2002 kidnapping identified Saik Galbun alias Pa Tanda. He was with Taupik when he was arrested last July 10. The witness tagged Saik as one of the Abu Sayyaf members who kidnapped her along with five other Jehovah’s Witnesses members.

He was first seen by the witness at Nangka, Patikul, Sulu on Sept. 6, 2002 while they were talking with the group of Ka Baks regarding the ransom money they were asking for the release of the Jehovah’s Witnesses members.

The PNP said Saik has a warrant of arrest for the crime of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom issued by the Pasig City Regional Trial Court.

The two arrested suspects are under the custody of the Detective and Special Operations Unit (DSOU).

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taguig abu sayyaf group
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