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Wanted ex-Abu Sayyaf man arrested in Basilan after 13 years of hiding

Philippines | National

Wanted ex-Abu Sayyaf man arrested in Basilan after 13 years of hiding

By Aaron Recuenco

At A Glance

The arrested former ASG member is facing four counts of Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention and nine counts of Murder
The suspect was involved in the 2001 Lamitan City, Basilan kidnapping incident and takeover of Dr. Jose Torres Memorial Hospital and St. Peter's Church compound.

Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested a former member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), who is wanted for murder and kidnapping cases, during a follow-up operation in Basilan.

CIDG director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said the operation was carried out on May 7 after his men confirmed the presence of the wanted fugitive in Barangay Lanote in Isabela City--13 years after the arrest warrant was issued against him.

The arrested former ASG member is facing four counts of Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention and nine counts of Murder before the Isabela City court over the terror group’s attacks in 2012 and 2018.

The arrested suspect, according to the CIDG, used to work for ASG Basilan leaders Furuji Indama and Abu Kik.

Torre said the suspect was involved in the 2001 Lamitan City, Basilan kidnapping incident and takeover of Dr. Jose Torres Memorial Hospital and St. Peter’s Church compound.

“He and cohorts allegedly forcibly took the hospital staff, employees and plantation workers and illegally detained them in Tuburan, Basilan Province for four months and nine days,” said Torre.

He said the arrested suspect will be presented to the court which issued the arrest warrant.

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