PNP: Sulu beheading possibly linked to arrest of MILF rebel

The Philippine National Police hinted Tuesday of a link between the beheading of an abducted school principal in Sulu and the arrest of a secessionist rebel in Zamboanga last weekend. PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina also said it is unlikely that the beheading of Gabriel Canizares was timed for the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton later this week. "Itong pamumugot kay Canizares is more linked to the arrest of Asnawi the other day sa Zamboanga International Airport (Canizares’ beheading is more linked to the arrest of Asnawi last weekend at the Zamboanga International Airport)," Espina said in an interview on dzXL radio. He was referring to Asnawi Addan Salah, a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) official linked to the beheading of Marines in Mindanao in 2007. PNP Special Action Force operatives arrested Asnawi Saturday as he was about to board a flight for Mecca in Saudi Arabia. [See: MILF leader in 2007 Marine beheadings falls] The MILF said Asnawi was among 130 MILF members charged in the killing of 14 Marines in Basilan in 2007, and was taken to Western Mindanao police headquarters at Camp Abendan for questioning. It also said Asnawi is a sub-commander of the MILF 114th Base Command, and was en route to Manila to board a flight for Mecca, Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s pilgrimage at the time when he was arrested. While the MILF confirmed the Basilan encounter, it denied beheading the Marines, which they said is an act against Islam. Pacer background "Maaaring may malaking kinalaman dito (It may have a lot to do with the beheading of Canizares)," Espina said about Asnawi as a member of the MILF. Espina said police are hunting down the armed men who abducted Canizares on October 19, and beheaded him and left his head at a gas station in Jolo town in Sulu before dawn Monday. He said that as head of the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (Pacer) that handled kidnap cases, he has a feel of what would drive abductors to kill their victims. "I have long time been chief of Pacer. Di basta-basta gumagawa ng aksyon unless otherwise there is a triggering and major reason (I have long been chief of Pacer. The kidnappers do not take such actions unless there is a triggering and major reason)," he said. Espina also noted kidnappers in Mindanao usually hold their prisoners for a long time, while Canizares was killed while in captivity for less than a month. On the other hand, he said the beheading is not likely related to the upcoming visit of Clinton, adding there is enough security in place for her visit this Thursday and Friday. "Kung ang tanong ay security (If the question is security), there will be no problem. I don’t think this has anything to do with the visit of the US state secretary," he said. On Monday, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the military and police to go after those responsible for the beheading of Canizares, former principal of the Kanague Elementary School in Patikul town in Sulu. - GMANews.TV