Suspected Sayyaf member nabbed in Basilan

MANILA, Philippines – A suspected Abu Sayyaf member who is believed to be among those responsible in the attack on a Marine detachment in the province last May was arrested by government troops in Basilan. A radio report quoted Marine officials on Tuesday as identifying the arrested suspect as Said Papaqui, who was arrested at a checkpoint in Isabela City in Basilan and is currently undergoing tactical interrogation at the First Marine Brigade headquarters in Tabiawan village. The arrested suspect is said to be among the rebels that attacked a detachment of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-8 in Ungkaya Pukan last May 25 where two attackers were reportedly killed while 10 soldiers were reportedly wounded. The military said members of the notorious Abu Sayyaf group reinforced the attacking group led by suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels. The joint MILF-Abu Sayyaf forces also ambushed a government reinforcement in the nearby Matarling village, where four more soldiers got wounded and a V150 armored vehicle was damaged from a landmine explosion. - Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV