Suspected Abu Sayyaf member falls in Taguig

Philippine security forces have arrested a suspected Abu Sayyaf member facing a string of criminal cases in southern Philippines but who is now working as a security guard of a posh condominium in Taguig City. A statement released by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group identified the suspected bandit as Imam Arabani Jakiran, 39, who was arrested 6 a.m. Thursday in front of the Pacific Tower Plaza hotel at 4th Avenue corner 25th St. De Jesus Oval, Global City, Taguig City where he is employed as a security guard. The arrest came as government security forces are on heightened alert for possible retaliatory attacks by followers of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden who was killed by US special forces in Pakistan over the weekend. Elements of the National Capital Region-Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (NCR-CIDU) and intelligence operatives of the Armed Forces of the Philippines carried out the operation against Jakiran, the police statement said.

Criminal cases Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr., CIDG director, said Jakiran goes by the alias Abdurahim Gustaham Arabani. The suspect hails from Asturias, Jolo, Sulu, and a resident of 103 Mujahedeen St., Salam Compound in Barangay Culiat, Tandang Sora, Quezon City. Pagdilao said Jakiran, who has a standing arrest warrant for a kidnapping for ransom case issued by Judge Danilo Buloy of 9th Judicial Region, Branch 2 in Isabela, Basilan, has a P350, 000 reward pursuant to DND-DILG Joint Order No. 11-2009. Further, Senior Superintendent Joel Napoleon Coronel, NCR-CIDU chief, said Jakiran is reportedly involved in the following incidents:

kidnapping of four employees of Dr. Jose Maria Torres Memorial Hospital in Lamitan on June 2, 2001; and

the abduction of six farmers from Golden Harvest plantation in Lantawan, Basilan on June 11 of the same year. Local terror groups On Tuesday, the National Security Council said three local groups are associated with bin Laden's al Qaeada network: the Abu Sayyaf (about 300 members), Jemaah Islamiyah (20-30 members), and the Rajah Sulaiman Movement (five members). The Abu Sayyaf, a loosely organized group of Islamic fundamentalists, is believed to be under the tutelage of al Qaeda's regional terrorist network Jemaah Islamayah, said PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. Philippine authorities have said that the killing of bin Laden would eventually lead to the demise of the Abu Sayyaf, which is blamed for a number of terrorist activities in southern Philippines and in Metro Manila. — RSJ, GMA News