A CRIME group member with ties with the Abu Sayyaf and allegedly involved in the massacre of eight fishermen four years ago was arrested by policemen in Zamboanga City, said police on Wednesday, June 30.

Police Brigadier General Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula director, identified the arrested suspect as Issung Hapil, 52, who has a standing warrant of arrest for frustrated murder with a P200,000 recommended bail.

Ylagan, said that Hapil, who has been listed as the 10th most wanted person in Zamboanga City, was arrested around 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, June 29, in Sitio Palo-Palo in Muti village.

Hapil is a member of the Marzan Ajijul crime group headed by Jamiul Nasalon and Abu Harris and was allegedly involved in the massacre of eight fishermen on January 9, 2017 near Siromon Island in Dita village.

Ylagan said the crime group has ties with the Abu Sayyaf group and was monitored to be hiding in Sikimbing Island, Barangay Buenavista, Zamboanga City.

He added that Hapil was also involved in the June 2016 twin roadside bomb explosions in Sitio Marangan, Muti village. No one was either injured or killed in the bombings. (SunStar Zamboanga)