PAOCC: 2 Abu Sayyaf members arrested in Zamboanga

Published June 17, 2014 8:51am

Two suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf bandit group linked to several kidnapping incidents were arrested in Zamboanga City on Monday, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission said.

In a statement, the PAOCC identified the suspected bandits as Jimmy Nurilla and Bakrin Haris. Both were arrested in Barangay Sangali.

Seized from the two were "subversive documents" and explosives.

A manhunt is now ongoing for a certain Walid, who managed to elude arrest.

The two arrested suspects were reportedly part of the group that abducted:

Australian Warren Rodwell, who was held in captivity for 15 months
American Kevin Lunsman, who was kept in captivity for five months
teacher Cathy Casipong from Sibogtok Elementary School in Limaong Island
businesswoman Sabrina Voon, who is still in captivity.

Members of the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime, Special Project Mindanao Khilafa Islamiyya, Philippine National Police, and Armed Forces in the Philippines took part in the PAOCC-assisted operation.

An initial investigation showed the authorities served an arrest warrant on Nurilla and Haris.

The PAOCC said Nurilla and Haris are believed to be active members of the Abu Sayyaf operating in Zamboanga City.

Both are suspected to have links to the Basilan-based ASG under the leadership of Furiji Indama and Khair Mundos, who was arrested last week in Parañaque City. — Joel Locsin/RSJ, GMA News

Tags: abusayyaf, paocc