No links yet between arrested suspects, Abu Sayyaf –police

From GMA News (Oct 7): No links yet between arrested suspects, Abu Sayyaf –police

Authorities have yet to determine if the two arrested suspects in the kidnapping of three foreigners and a Filipino woman in Samal Island last week were members of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group.

Interviewed by phone on Wednesday, Superintendent Antonio Rivera of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Davao City said they are still doing background checks on the two to determine their possible group affiliations.

"Mahirap mag-confirm kapag walang information or ebidensya na talagang members sila [ng Abu Sayyaf]. Kaya ginagawa namin ngayon, we are trying to establish through evidence para masabi na members sila ng ganitong grupo," Rivera told GMA News Online.

"Bina-backtrack namin, bina-background check, para matignan kung sino ang kasama nila," he added.

The kidnapped victims have been identified as Canadian tourists John Ridsdel, 68, and Robert Hall, 50, as well as Hall's girlfriend Marites Flor and Norwegian resort manager Kjartan Sekkingstad, 56.

Both the police and the military have yet to confirm reports that the victims are in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.

The group, which has supposed links with foreign terrorist organizations, is notorious for carrying out kidnappings, including of foreigners, in the past.

Rivera said the CIDG also revisited the site where the two were arrested as part of its investigation to determine the possible involvement of the two in the September 21 abduction in Oceanview Resort in Davao del Norte's Samal Island.

"May information kami na nare-receive na they could be involved. Lahat ng information na dumadaan sa amin, bina-validate [namin at] kinoconfirm. Binabalikan pa ng imbestigador 'yung lugar ng investigation para ma-validate kung may involvement," he said.

One of the suspects was arrested due to an existing warrant from the Regional Trial Court Branch 3 of Nabunturan, Compostela Valley, for murder and serious illegal detention, while the other was nabbed for possession of a gun and a grenade.

"Nakasama lang kasi 'yung isa dahil magkasama sila nung may warrant. Dinala na rin siya simply because at the time na naaresto siya, nakunan siya ng baril at granada," Rivera said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/539832/news/regions/no-links-yet-between-arrested-suspects-abu-sayyaf-police