THE Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) on Saturday, May 29, 2021, handed over to the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) eight alleged members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who were arrested in Sabah.

The alleged ASG members were identified as Sansibar Bensio, Firdaus Omar, Munimar Binda, Ladin Mujahirin Faizal, Hamzah Faizal, Sansis Mohammad, Halim Akhir and Yusuf Akram.

They were arrested in Jalan Taman Sri Arjuna, Beaufort, Sabah, on May 8, 2021.

The arrested persons were transported to Sulu for proper disposition.

Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan Jr., Westmincom commander, said the suspects had established a community cell with relatives and family members in an urban poor community in Jalan Taman Sri Arjuna.

He said Bensio, who is the group’s sub-leader, and members Muayyar Binda and Lugah Sanchez are Eastern Sulu-based ASG. They were allegedly involved in numerous encounters with marine forces in Bud Bawis Complex, Panamao.

“Accordingly, ASGSL Sansibar Bensio and the late ASGSL (ASG sub leader) Mabar Binda were planning to conduct kidnapping activities in Sabah. However, it was preempted due to the continuous exchange of information and monitoring with the target personalities which led to the successful conduct of special police operation against the group in Beaufort, Sabah,” said Vinluan. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)