Lawmen recapture ASG spotter in Zamboanga City

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 30): Lawmen recapture ASG spotter in Zamboanga City

Combined police and military intelligence operatives have recaptured an Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) spotter who escaped nine days ago in this city.

The recapture of Alhnur Usup, 28, who carries the aliases of Arab-Arab and Abab Puti, came following intensive manhunt the authorities have launched after he escaped from police custody.

Supt. Luisito Magnaye, Zamboanga City police officer-in-charge, said Usup was recaptured inside a mosque around 12:15 p.m. Thursday in Purok 7, Barangay Mampang, nine kilometers east of City Hall.

Magnaye said Usup did not resist when the lawmen recaptured him.

Usup escaped while he and his companion, Jamal Labuan, 32, were being transported by policemen on June 21 from the local police headquarters to the Zamboanga City Reformatory Center (ZCRC) of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

Labuan, also tried to escaped but was eventually subdued by the escorting policemen.

Local police operatives have arrested Usup and Labuan on June 2 near an eatery in Barangay Canelar following a brief chase.

Usup is among the spotters of the ASG as well as conducting surveillance for prospective targets for kidnapping in this city.

Usup is a follower of Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf leader Idang Susukan. The court in Parang, Sulu has issued an arrest warrant against him for the crime of murder with PHP200,000 recommended bail.

Magnaye said Usup will be turned over later on to the BJMP-administered ZCRC.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=900175