Suspected Abu Sayyaf man falls in Sulu - police

A suspected Abu Sayyaf bandit involved in a number of criminal activities including the kidnapping of three International Committee of the Red Cross members in 2009 fell into government hands in Sulu on Tuesday, the National Police said. In a text message to reporters Wednesday, PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. identified the suspected bandit as Adzhar Patta Mawalil (a.k.a. Ajang Nedz Mawalil), who is said to part of Abu Sayyaf group headed by Albader Parad. Cruz said Mawalil was nabbed by government security forces at 5:41 p.m. Tuesday at Sitio Martinez, barangay San Raymundo in Jolo. According to information from the police, Mawalil was involved in the Jan. 15, 2009 Jolo kidnapping of ICRC Zamboanga head Andreas Notter, a 38-year-old Swiss national; Water Habitat delegate Eugenio Vagni, 62, Italian; and ICRC engineer Mary Jean Lacaba, a Filipina. Lacaba was released April 2, 2009; Notter was recovered 16 days later while Vagni was freed July 12. Cruz said the subject is also allegedly involved in the beheading of seven laborers of BJ Mill in Silangkan, Parang, Sulu as well as other atrocities in the past. As of posting time, Mawalil was still under the custody of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 9 undergoing debriefing procedures. — RSJ, GMA News