Abu Sayyaf suspect arrested in Manila

AN ABU SAYYAF Group (ASG) member wanted for kidnapping and illegal detention was arrested by the police on Sunday morning at Ermita, Manila.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) presented on Tuesday Abdurahman Daiyung, alias Biznar Salabudin or Abu Talha, who was arrested at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday. The warrant for his arrest was issued by Presiding Judge Leo Jay T. Principe of the Regional Trial Court of Basilan, Ninth Judicial Region, Branch 1.

NCRPO chief Director Guillermo T. Eleazar said Mr. Daiyung had been in Manila for the past few months, keeping in touch with other alleged members of the terror group.

Mr. Eleazar said in a press briefing at Camp Crame on Tuesday, “Nagtatago siya and sa ngayon

(Mr. Daiyung had been in hiding and for now), he’s been here for just few months. He is a welder at na-monitor natin na umiikot at pumupunta siya sa ibang mga kasamahan niya rito.” (We monitored him going around and visiting other [Abu Sayyaf] members here).

Mr. Daiyung was one of the ASG members, led by Isnilon Hapilon, behind the June 11, 2001, kidnapping of 15 employees of the Golden Harvest Plantation in Lantawan, Basilan. A hostage who had been freed positively identified the suspect and filed an affidavit against him.

The PNP also said Mr. Daiyung was involved in a bombing incident in Kidapawan City on Oct. 10, 2002. Seven were killed 24 were injured in that attack. Mr. Eleazar said, “Probably merong supporters at sympathizers [Probably there are supporters and sympathizers of the Abu Sayyaf Group]. But we’d like to tell the public, kung itatanong natin kung meron na-imo-monitor na credible or validated info as to their plan of staging terror activities, wala tayong ganon (we are monitoring and there are no such plans).” “Pero hindi natin pwedeng i-discount ‘yung possibility na nagpa-plano sila ng ganun,” the NCRPO chief added. (But we cannot discount the possibility of such a terror plot). —