2 suspected Abu Sayyaf members arrested in Zamboanga

Two suspected members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group wanted for various charges, have been arrested on Wednesday in Zamboanga City, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Thursday. The suspected bandits, identified as Jhon Buhari Jamiri and Adjid Halik, were arrested by members of the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) at past 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday in Villa Margarita, San Roque in Zamboanga City, PNP spokesperson Senior Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said in a report sent to the media on Thursday. Jamiri is wanted for murder and frustrated murder charges, and has a reward of P600,000 for his arrest. He was arrested by virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Leo Jay Principe of the Basilan Regional Trial Court on July 10, 2009, according to Cruz. Halik, meanwhile, was charged nine years ago for kidnapping and serious illegal detention. He was taken into police custody by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Ernesto Gutierrez of Sulu Regional Trial Court on March 8, 2001. The arrest of the two suspected Abu Sayyaf members came a day before the Department of Justice (DOJ)’s announcement that it is filing a case to outlaw the bandit group. The Abu Sayyaf, an extremist group based in southern Philippines, is widely blamed for a wave of atrocities and kidnappings not only in the region but also in Metro Manila. – VVP, GMANews.TV