Troops arrest ASG sub-leader in Zambo City

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 27): Troops arrest ASG sub-leader in Zambo City

Joint police and military operatives arrested Friday a sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) facing 87 counts of kidnapping charges in this city.

Chief Supt. Billy Beltran, Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) director, identified the arrested ASG bandit as Faizal Jaafar, who carries the aliases of Jaafar Mundi, Abu Jaafar, Abu Aren, Abu Ben and Abu Raba.

Beltran said Jaafar was arrested around 12:30 a.m. in Barangay Cawit, some 13.35 kilometers west of City Hall.

Beltran said Jaafar was arrested in a law enforcement operation by way of serving warrant of arrest for the crime of 87-count kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

Beltran said Jaafar was involved in the 2001 kidnapping of 21 people, mostly Europeans, in Sipadan, Malaysia.

He said that Jaafar has also standing warrants of arrest for murder and illegal possession of firearms, issued by the courts of Isabela City, Basilan and Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, respectively.

He said Jaafar was placed under the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-9 (CIDG-9).

Beltran lauded and commended the operating police and military units for a job well done and for their utmost efforts that resulted to the arrest of Jaafar.

He urged the general public to continue to support and cooperate with the police by providing timely and relevant information on any wanted person and terrorist who may be hiding in their respective places.

“Report any suspicious persons to the nearest police station or to PRO-9 Hotline 0917-577-19-97,” he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=958788