Alleged Abu Sayyaf bomber with P1.3M bounty nabbed in Basilan

A suspected Abu Sayyaf member wanted for allegedly bombing a public terminal in Kidapawan City in 2007 was arrested in a joint military and police operation in Basilan Tuesday, the military said Thursday.

Suspect Rahim Abdul alias Aman Kabalu was nabbed at Zone 1 in Barangay Kampurnah, Isabela City, around 3:40 p.m. on November 28. A fragmentation grenade was seized from him.

Abdul is listed under the Department of National Defense/Department of Interior and Local Government joint order of rewards with a bounty of P1.3 million.

Brigadier General Juvymax Uy, Joint Task Force Basilan commander, said Abdul was positively identified by a civilian which led to his arrest.

The suspect was brought to the Basilan Provincial Police Office for proper disposition and legal procedures.

Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command, commended Joint Task Force Basilan for the successful operation.

“Rest assured that our Joint Task Forces will continue to keep guard as they sustain the conduct of combat and intelligence operations in their joint area of operations in order to ensure peace and security in respective areas,” he said.

In February 2013, police intelligence units of Zamboanga arrested a certain Mujeener Dagam Cabalo whom they claimed to be Kabalu.

Cabalo had just been discharged from a private hospital where he was confined due to a heart ailment when he was arrested.

He was detained at the Special Intensive Care Aarea of the Camp Bagong Diwa but was released in December 2013 after a Taguig judge said he is a victim of mistaken identity. —Amita Legaspi/KBK, GMA News