TWENTY-NINE suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were arrested in a raid in the hinterlands of Sulu, a top military official announced Wednesday.
Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana Jr., commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu, said the suspects were arrested around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday in the village of Bangkal, Patikul town.
Sobejana said that kidnap victims positively identified four of the 29 suspects as member of the terrorist group.
Sobejana said the investigation and filing of criminal cases against the suspects were being handled by the Sulu Police Provincial Office.
The military official said among the suspects' victim was nine-year-old Denery Tan, who was kidnapped on June 6, in the village of San Raymundo, Jolo.
The Abu Sayyaf bandits freed Tan on Monday in Bangkal, Patikul, after the victim’s family reportedly paid P200,000 ransom. (SunStar Philippines)