ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police arrested on Thursday, Nov. 17, in Asturias, Sulu an Abu Sayyaf Group member allegedly involved in the abduction of broadcast journalist Ces Drilon and the decapitation of a school teacher in 2009.
ABU Sayyaf kidnap suspect Ibrahim Esani Asara (left).
Major William Maisog, Sulu-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief, identified the suspect as Ibrahim Esani Asara, also known as ‘’Rahim Absara,’’ ‘’Abu Absara,’’ and several other aliases, 52, and a resident of Barangay Kanmindus, Luuk, Sulu.
Asara is wanted for six counts of murder and 25 counts of frustrated murder based on warrants of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court in Jolo, Sulu.
A sub-leader of the ASG under Radulan Sahiron, Asara was tied to a series of abduction and terroristic activities in Sulu.
Asara is a suspect in the kidnapping of Drilon and her cameraman in Maimbung in 2009.
He was also linked to the abduction and decapitation of Gabriel Canizares, an elementary school teacher in October 2009 in Patikul.
Among his victims were Rosalie Lao in January 2008, restaurant owner Nelson Lim in 2011, and the boat captain and crew members of the Mega Fishing kidnapped in March 2011.
Asara was allegedly involved in a 2011 encounter with the Philippine Marines in which 2nd Lt. Michael Balalad was killed.