ASG member wanted for kidnapping nabbed at NAIA

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 8, 2022): ASG member wanted for kidnapping nabbed at NAIA (By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)

Photo courtesy of SPD

Operatives of the Southern Police District (SPD) arrested an Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) member wanted for kidnapping since 2012 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City.

In a statement Friday, SPD director, Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg said the suspect, Hajar Binadbul Mubina alias "Abu Asrie", "Mheiradz", "Muadz", "Muhadz", 30, a native of Bubuan Island, Basilan was arrested on Thursday night upon his arrival from Malaysia.

The initial report revealed that operatives of the SPD's Station Intelligence Section, Pasay City police, and Bureau of Immigration (BI) Anti-Terrorism Group conducted an intelligence-driven operation that resulted in the arrest of Mubina, who has a standing warrant of arrest issued by a Zamboanga court on charges of kidnapping with no bail recommended.

Mubina is a member of ASG based in Basilan under its slain leader Furuji Indama. He has also been involved in around four encounters with the military. However, he denied that he had killed any soldier because they fire their guns in one direction without seeing their targets.

He left the group in 2015 and went to Malaysia to evade arrest and criminal prosecution.

While in Sabah, he was able to secure a fake ID card or permanent residence card. He created a Facebook account under the name of "Mhieradz Zhiadqie IV” to get in touch with his former ASG comrades.

In August 2017, the Royal Malaysian Police barged into Mubina's house in Kuala Lumpur and arrested him together with seven Filipino neighbors for terrorism-related offenses with no right to counsel.

Mubina claimed that the Malaysian police accused him of plotting an attack during the Southeast Asian Games and Merdeka Celebration in the Malaysian capital.

He was due for release on Aug. 30, 2021, but the Tapah Prison in Malaysia was placed under an enhanced movement control order due to the coronavirus pandemic which delayed his release.

Mubina is temporarily under the custody of the SPD's District Special Operation Unit for proper disposition pending the issuance of the commitment order from the Zamboanga court.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1178508