CRIMINAL charges were filed against an Abu Sayyaf leader and several others in connection with last month’s kidnapping of fish trader in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay.

Charged before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 24 of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay were Abu Sayyaf leader Nurhassan Jamiri, Adznar Chiong alias Buda and several John Does, the police said Thursday.

They were tagged as responsible in the kidnapping of Cynthia Caboberte, a fish trader from Dipolog City.

Caboberte was kidnapped by six gunmen last December 12 at Sitio Palid in the village of Magdaup, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.

The suspects were charged for robbery, and abduction and serious illegal detention, the police said.

Except for Chiong, all of the suspects including Jamiri, remain at large, the police said.

The police arrested Chiong at his house in the village of Bangkerohan, Ipil town, in a follow-up operation hours after the kidnapping of Caboberte.

Chiong was turned over last January 6 to the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, the police said. (Bong Garcia)