2 Abu Sayyaf leaders nabbed in Zamboanga City – AFP

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Two alleged ranking Abu Sayyaf leaders, who were tagged in the 2001 kidnapping of 15 plantation workers in Basilan, were arrested here on Wednesday, the military said.

Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, only identified the two alleged bandit leaders by their aliases.

He said commanders Suhod and Haris had just arrived at the seaport here when spotted by authorities.

“The suspects were apprehended while disembarking from MV Anika from Basilan,” Tan said.

He said those involved in the 7:45 a.m. arrest of the suspects included operatives from the police, the Special Action Force, the 84th SAC Seaborne, the 530th Air Base Wing and the Anti Kidnapping Group (AKG).

He said Suhod and Haris were among suspects tagged in the kidnapping of 15 workers of the Golden Harvest Plantation in June 2001. Two of the captives were later beheaded.

Tan said the suspects have been placed in the custody of the AKG.  SFM