Police intelligence operatives have arrested in Manila a member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) wanted for his involvement in the kidnapping of 15 rubber plantation workers in Basilan nearly 18 years ago.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Guillermo Eleazar identified the suspect as Abdurahman Mataud Dayung, alias Bznar Salabudin and Abu Talha.
Dayung was nabbed by members of the Regional Special Operations Unit and Regional Intelligence Division, both of the NCRPO and the PNP Intelligence Group, with the support of intelligence personnel from the Navy and its Naval Special Operations Group.
Eleazar said that Dayung was arrested at around 10 a.m. last Sunday at 1205 M. H. Del Pilar Street corner Padre Faura, Ermita, Manila, based on the strength of a warrant issued by a regional trial court in Basilan.
He said that the suspect was involved in the kidnapping of 15 employees of the Golden Harvest Plantation in Barangay Tairan, Lantawan, Basilan, on June 11, 2001.
The abduction was perpetrated by the group of Isnilon Hapilon, commander of the ASG in Basilan who became the emir of the Islamic State in Southeast Asia but was killed in Marawi City in 2017.
Eleazar said that one of the kidnapping victims positively identified Dayung and executed an affidavit detailing the suspect’s participation in the crime.
“Further, investigation revealed that Dayung was involved in the Kidapawan Bus Terminal bombing on October 10, 2002, that resulted in the killing of seven persons and wounding of 24 other persons,” said Eleazar.
“Undoubtedly, effective coordination and operation between the AFP and the PNP will result in the apprehension of the members of Abu Sayyaf Group in the country,” he added.