2 Sayyaf men linked to Sabah kidnappings captured in Philippines

From the Mindanao Examiner (Jan 14): 2 Sayyaf men linked to Sabah kidnappings captured in Philippines

Philippine authorities are interrogating an Abu Sayyaf rebel who was captured Thursday in the southern province of Sulu, officials said.

Officials said Jamil Kahil was cornered by police and soldiers in the village called Buan in Panglima Sugala town. The 35-year old Kahil is being investigated by the police for his alleged link to the kidnappings in Sabah.

Kahil’s capture came a day after security forces also arrested another Abu Sayyaf rebel – Munap Saimaran – in Zamboanga City on Wednesday. Saimaran was implicated in many kidnapping cases, including the cross-border raid in Malaysia’s resort island of Sipadan in Sabah in 2000.

Saimaran’s group kidnapped 21 mostly European and Asian holidaymakers at the island resort and ransomed them off to Malaysia and Libya for at least $25 million.

Last year, police also captured Ibni Acosta, who headed the Abu Sayyaf’s urban terrorist group and involved in the Sipadan kidnappings, in his hideout in Tungawan town in Zamboanga Sibugay province.

http://mindanaoexaminer.com/2-sayyaf-men-linked-to-sabah-kidnappings-captured-in-philippines/