Police official, suspected bomb expert nabbed for alleged attempt to rescue Abu Sayyaf intruders in Bohol

A female police official and a suspected bomb expert were arrested in Bohol for their alleged attempt to rescue the remaining Abu Sayyaf intruders in Bohol province on Saturday.

Police identified the arrested police official as Superintendent Maria Cristina Nobleza and the suspected bomb expert as Reenor Lou Dungon alias Kudre.

Nobleza is the deputy regional director of the Davao Regional Police Office's Crime Laboratory.

The two suspects, on board a Nissan Navara with plate number FGN 270, were arrested by policemen after attempting to drive past a checkpoint in Barangay Bacani in Clarin town.

Police said Nobleza threw her cellphone while being arrested. The cellphone allegedly had a record of a text message from an Abu Sayyaf member asking for rescue.

Also seized from their vehicle were food supplies, a first aid kit, drinks, several clothes and a snorkeling gear.

The police official claimed that she was on a vacation in Bohol.

Authorities, meanwhile, said that Dungon was a brother-in-law of slain Abu Sayyaf leader and founder Abdurajik Abubakar Janjalani.

Dungon also has a pending warrant of arrest issued by Judge Vincent Morales of the Cagayan de Oro City Regional Trial Court for his alleged involvement in a hotel bombing in the city, which left two persons dead.

The military on Sunday said its troops are still looking for at least three Abu Sayyaf members.

Authorities said more than 10 members of the Abu Sayyaf, including its sub-leader, Muammar Askali alias Abu Rami, slipped into Inabanga, Bohol province last April 11.

Askali and five others were killed during a clash in Inabanga town on the same day.

Four more Abu Sayyaf member, including Joselito Melloria, were killed by the military on Saturday.

Authorities said the Abu Sayyaf group went to Bohol to conduct kidnappings. —report from Kit Matus Cortez/ALG, GMA News