2 Abu Sayyaf bandits, companions nabbed in Zambo City, Basilan

From GMA News (May 28): 2 Abu Sayyaf bandits, companions nabbed in Zambo City, Basilan

Government forces have arrested two suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits, including one allegedly involved in the abduction of two foreign priests years ago, in two separate occassions in Mindanao, a police official said Tuesday.

Senior Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo, the police director in Zamboanga City, said Muktar Adil Amin alias Putot Jakaria was arrested at Mindpro City Mall on La Purisima Street in Zamboanga City.

Amin has standing warrants of arrest for kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the kidnapping of Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi in 2007 and Irish priest Michael Sinnott in 2009 .

Amin's three companions, Sadat Amilhamja, Allan Nader and Najal Hail, were also arrested by the police. The police will check if they have records for criminal acts.

Meanwhile, another suspected Abu Sayyaf bandit, Abu Arsad alias Musad Abdurasad, was arrested in Lantawan town in Basilan, according to Senior Superintendent Mario Dapilloza, Basilan provincial police director.

Arsad has standing warrants of arrests for nine counts of murder in Albarka, Basilan, as well as kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the abduction of a coconut farmer from Golden Harvest plantation in Barangay Tairan, Lantawan, in 2001.

Amin and his companions were temporarily detained at Zamboanga City Police Office while Arsad in the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) regional office in Zamboanga City.

Just two days earlier, on Saturday, seven Philippine Marines were killed in a clash with Abu Sayyaf bandits in Patikul town in Sulu. Officials are still trying to determine if the incident was an "operational miscalculation" or a close encounter.

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