Sayyaf fugitive tagged in 2001 plantation attack nabbed in Taguig

From the Philippine News Agency (May 12, 2021): Sayyaf fugitive tagged in 2001 plantation attack nabbed in Taguig (By Benjamin Pulta)

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested an alleged sleeper cell member of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who has evaded arrest for almost two decades.

NBI Officer-In-Charge (OIC)-Director Eric B. Distor on Wednesday said Wahab S. Jamal a.k.a. Ustadz Usman Halipa was arrested by members of the NBI-Counter-Terrorism Division (NBI-CTD) at Maharlika Village in Taguig last May 7.

He was nabbed through an outstanding warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court of Basilan for kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

"He may have eluded the law for almost 20 years but its long arm has finally caught up with him. Let me assure the public that the NBI will be unwavering in its drive to run after the members of this terrorist group,” Distor said.

Jamal is the 27th member of the ASG arrested by the NBI since 2018.

Jamal was involved in the Golden Harvest plantation kidnapping on June 11, 2001 in Tairan, Lantawan in Basilan.

On April 21, a witness identified Jamal as Ustadz Usman Halipa from a photo line-up.

A series of casing and surveillance by the NBI then ensued together with counterparts from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to gather more information on Jamal.

On May 7, another witness identified Jamal also from a photo line-up and executed an affidavit of identification subscribed at the Regional Prosecutor’s Office.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1139999