Troops arrest suspected Abu Sayyaf bandit at Zamboanga port

From the Philippine News Agency (May 30): Troops arrest suspected Abu Sayyaf bandit at Zamboanga port

Joint military and police operatives arrested early Tuesday morning a suspected member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who was about to sneak into this city by mixing up with inbound passengers.

Arrested was Kimhar Asusi alias Abu Kimar, 32, the first ASG member who was arrested since the “No ID, No Entry” policy took effect on Friday, May 26.

The city government imposed the “No ID, No Entry” policy in a bid to prevent terrorists and lawless elements from entering the city.

The move is part of the intensified security measures implemented in this city following the Marawi City incident that prompted President Duterte to declare martial law over Mindanao.

Col. Leonel Nicolas, Joint Task Force Zamboanga commander, said Asusi was arrested at around 6:05 a.m. Tuesday just as he disembarked from a passenger ferry that arrived at the local port coming from Jolo, Sulu.

Nicolas said that Asusi, a resident of Barangay Bawisan, Parang, Sulu, has a standing warrant of arrest for two counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom.

He said Asusi was involved in a firefight with the First Scout Ranger Battalion in Sitio Marang, Barangay Buanza, Indanan, Sulu, where the two kidnapped coastguard personnel were recovered in August 2015.

The two coastguard personnel, together with a village official, were kidnapped in May 2015 in Aliguay Island, Dapitan City. The Abu Sayyaf killed the village official for his family's alleged failure to pay ransom.

Nicolas said Asusi was taken to the headquarters of Police Station 11 for appropriate action. A fragmentation grenade was recovered in his possession.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/992046