AN ABU Sayyaf leader involved in kidnappings and bombings was arrested in a law enforcement operation Wednesday, September 7, 2022, in the province of Sulu, the police reported.
Police Colonel John Francis Encinareal, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Zamboanga Peninsula director, identified the arrested suspect as Abubakar Abdulkadil alias Basaron Arok, 35, an Abu Sayyaf mid-level leader.
Encinareal said Abdulkadil was arrested in a law enforcement operation by way of service of a warrant of arrest around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 7, in San Raymundo village, Jolo, Sulu.
Encinareal said Abdulkadil has pending warrants of arrest for kidnapping with ransom and homicide issued by the court of Sulu, and for murder issued by the court of Tawi-Tawi.
He said that Abdulkadil was involved in a series of kidnappings of Filipinos and foreigners in the past years and in the 2019 bombing of Jolo Cathedral as well as in the August 24, 2020 twin bombings in Jolo, Sulu.
He said Abdulkadil is one of the students of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Mudzrimar Sawadjaan alias Mundi in making improvised explosive device (IED) and an explosive vest.
He said that the Abu Sayyaf leader was arrested by a joint team of CIDG, Philippine National Police-Special Action Force and Sulu policemen. (SunStar Zamboanga)