Kota Kinabalu: An Abu Sayyaf sub-leader allegedly involved in kidnappings and suicide bombings and wanted by the Philippines and Malaysia was arrested Wednesday in the southern Philippine province of Sulu.
Col. Richard Verceles, Area Police Command-Western Mindanao operations chief, in a statement, said Abubakar Abdulkadil alias Basaron Arok, 35, was arrested at about 7:30am in San Raymundo village, Jolo, the capital town of Sulu.
Verceles said the police’s Special Action Force, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Sulu police raided Abdukadil's hideout in the village to serve arrest warrants for kidnapping for ransom and homicide issued by the court of Sulu and for murder issued by the court of Tawi-Tawi.
He was suspected to have been involved in a series of kidnappings of Filipinos and foreigners over the past several years.
Abdulkadil was also tagged in the 2019 and 2020 twin-suicide bombings of the Jolo Cathedral in Sulu.
Verceles said Abdulkadil is one of the students of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Mudzrimar Sawadjaan, who is also wanted by Malaysia, in making improvised explosive devices and explosive vests.
Abdulkadil is currently in the custody of Sulu police.
Abdulkadil and Mudzrimar are both on the wanted list of the Eastern Sabah Security Command or Esscom.
Abdulkadil is the third name on the Esscom list now in the Philippine government's custody.
Earlier, Daily Express reported two Abu Sayyaf sub-leaders, Bensito Quitino and Almujer Yadah, also on Esscom's wanted list, surrendered to the Philippine military in Sulu.
With the three Abu Sayyaf sub-leaders in custody, 17 active names, all Filipinos, remain on the Esscom list.
Esscom's full list of 20 Filipinos is as follows: Madjid Said @ Ammah Patit, Mudzrimar @ Mundi Sawadjaan, Ahadin Hussein, Ellam Sajirin @ Nasirin, Ismurah Jirah, Salip Mura, Al Munjir Yadah, Ben Tatoh Quirino, Basaron Arok, Mujimar Sawadjaan @ Rasad, Marajan @ Manajan Asiri, Jul Aksan Abdurajan @ Halimaw, Jul @ Jun Hasan, Barak Undog @ Alvin, Hamsan Pakkan @ Black Cobra, Sabri Madrasul @ Salip Jul, Hadji Wahad @ Talip, Tampi @ Bunju, Haibin Mubin @ Apo Kuhambo and Sangbas Parisko.
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