Terror suspect nabbed in Zambo

From the Manila Standard Today (Nov 16): Terror suspect nabbed in Zambo

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission on Friday said operatives arrested Wednesday an alleged member of the Abu Sayyaf Group over the kidnapping of six Jehova’s Witness members in Zamboanga City.

The commission identified the suspect as Ustadz Nidhal Pajiran alias Abu Rahman and Abu Kudama, among responsible bandits in their abduction in Patikul, Sulu in 2002.

Pajiran was apprehended in Barangay Tictapul by agents of the Special Project Mindanao Khilafa Islamiya, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in a PAOCC-assisted operation.

“Pajiran was nabbed on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by Branch 266 of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court for kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom,” PAOCC said.

He was allegedly part of the group that abducted the members of the religious organization while doing door-to-door sale of cosmetic products in Patikul in August 2002. Two of the victims were beheaded a day after they were kidnapped, while the remaining four were rescued by the military following weeks of operation.

Pajiran was also involved in the abduction of American Jeffrey Schilling in 2000 in Sulu.

Schilling was held for seven months by the ASG, which threatened to kill him unless his family pays a US$10-million in ransom and Washington releases prisoners held in the United States. In April 2001, Schilling escaped.

According to authorities, Pajiran has been a member of the notorious group since 2000 when he joined Khadaffy Janjalani in Patikul, Sulu.

They said Pajiran had studied Madrasah in Barangay Muti, Zamboanga City where he met the ASG’s bomb experts Abdulla and Amilhamja Ajilul. He also went to Al Farouk Institute in Palawan in 1995 and graduated at the top of his class, they added.

Pajarin is said to be one of the religious leaders and trainers of the ASG in various trainings held in Sulu since 2003.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/11/16/terror-suspect-nabbed-in-zambo/