Abu Sayyaf leader arrested in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY—A notorious Abu Sayyaf leader operating in Basilan was arrested here on Friday.

Philippine Navy Cdr. Vincent Roy Trinidad, chief of staff of the Naval Forces in Western Mindanao, said Mhadie Umangkat Sahirin, also known as Madie, was arrested in Barangay Tugbungan here around noontime.

Umangkat, Trinidad said, was arrested by virtue of a warrant issued by a Basilan court over murder charges.

“He is a leader of lawless elements based in Sapah Bulak, Sumisip, Basilan, with the strength of more or less 20 followers.  He was formerly under Furuji Indama,” Trinidad said.

He said Umangkat was identified as the leader of gunmen, who had staged a series of ambush and bomb attacks against government forces securing the construction of the Basilan Circumferential Road and the burning of government construction equipment in the province.

Col. Rolando Bautista, commander of Joint Task Group Basilan, said Umangkat could be here to serve as spotter for Abu Sayyaf bombing targets.

“This might be in relation to the pronouncement of the ASG to conduct terror activities during the period of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Manila,” he said.