Troops nab Abu Sayyaf bandit in Tawi-Tawi

From the Philippine News Agency (May 15): Troops nab Abu Sayyaf bandit in Tawi-Tawi

Government troops nabbed a member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Tawi-Tawi province following a tip from residents during a community meeting over the weekend.

In a statement Monday, the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi said that soldiers under the Marine Battalion Landing Team-10 (MBLT-10) on Saturday nabbed Sahidul Bandhala Jikiri in Sitangkai town.

“The MBLT-10 troops were having a ‘pulong-pulong’ among the local populace when the information on the identity of Jikiri was volunteered by one of the concerned residents,” Brig. Gen. Custodio Parcon, Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi, said.

“In coordination with the PNP (Philippine National Police), we immediately invited Jikiri for an interview. In the course of questioning, Jikiri confessed to be an ASG/KFRG (kidnap-for-ransom group) member under ASG/KFRG sub leaders Idang Susukan and Sihata Latip, whose groups are operating in Sulu Province,” Parcon said.

The suspect eventually admitted to have participated in “the crafting of plans for kidnapping and cross-border seajacking, targeting mostly foreign nationals and vessels,” the military said.

The suspect is now in the custody of the police for documentation and the filing of appropriate charges.

“This is a very good example of a community that is united in fighting the Abu Sayyaf,” Parcon said.

“We urge other towns and communities all over the BaSulTa (Basilan, Sulu Tawi-Tawi) area to do the same, so that the Abu Sayyaf and their supporters will be forced to surrender,” he added.

Last month, 11 Abu Sayyaf bandits surrendered to the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi and turned over seven high-powered firearms.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/987780