Abu Sayyaf member arrested in Basilan

Abu Sayyaf group. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—A member of Islamic extremist group Abu Sayyaf has been arrested on Wednesday in Basilan, a military official said Thursday.

Lieutenant Colonel Eliglen Villaflor, 4th Special Forces Battalion Commander, said Ismael Cawa alias Abu Ismael was arrested in Sitio Balawatin, Makiri, Isabela City, Basilan after government troops responded to a tip from a concerned citizen.

Judge Leo Jay Principe issued the warrant of arrest for Cawa, who was charged with serious illegal detention and kidnapping, at Regional Trial Court Branch 1, Isabela City Basilan.

Cawa abducted 15 people in Golden Harvest Plantation in June 2001, the time when the Abu Sayyaf “was at its strongest” as Villaflor said.

Villaflor then “immediately organized” two Special Forces teams with Captain Jay Namoca, Commanding Officer of the 15th Special Forces Company, as head.

“True enough, the said Abu Sayyaf member was at the said place,” Villaflor said. “Thereafter, the warrant of arrest was served.”

Villaflor said that they monitored the movements of Cawa before the arrest and the Muslim rebel did not put up any resistance.

Cawa would be brought to the 9th Regional Criminal Investigation and Detention Group at Camp Batalla,Cawa Cawa, Zamboanga City for proper disposition.