GOVERNMENT operatives have arrested early Wednesday an alleged member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in an east coast village in Zamboanga City, a top police official said.

Chief Superintendent Billy Beltran, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula director, identified the arrested suspect as Amin Aklam, an alleged member of the Sulu-based ASG.

Beltran said Aklam was arrested by joint police and military operatives who served him a warrant of arrest around 3 a.m. in Buenavista village, 54 kilometers east of this city.

He said Aklam has standing warrant of arrest for the crime of kidnapping, frustrated murder and murder issued by the court of Jolo, Sulu.

Beltran said that Aklam is presently under the custody of Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU)-Zamboanga Peninsula for proper disposition.

Government authorities are continuously conducting law enforcement operations against the ASG in other parts of the region while the military continue the offensive against the bandits in Sulu.

The offensive is aimed to rescue the nine people, who are still being held captives by the ASG.

The remaining captives include five foreigners--three Indonesians, one Vietnamese and one Dutch--and three Filipinos. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)