JOLO, SULU—A suspected Islamic militant believed to have been involved in the kidnapping in June of broadcaster Ces Drilon and her camera crew has been arrested, the military said on Sunday.

Marcial Jabarot, 30, was detained late Saturday near Patikul, Jolo, a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf group, the military said.

Jabarot was said to be on a mission to assassinate soldiers in Patikul after three of his comrades were killed in a botched kidnapping attempt Friday, the military said.

Jabarot’s involvement in the June kidnapping of ABS-CBN television presenter Drilon, cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and soundman Angelo Valderama, was later established during interrogation of two alleged members of the Abu Sayyaf who have been arrested, the military said.

TV crew

Drilon and her crew were freed after nine days in captivity, during which they managed to secretly film their ordeal, helping the military identify the suspects.

Jabarot’s arrest came a day after suspected Abu Sayyaf members engaged soldiers and police in a brief firefight that killed one and led to the arrest of three suspects, now detained at the Jolo police station and undergoing interrogation, said Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres Jr.

The group was monitored circling a grocery store owned by a supposed kidnap target before the gunfight three days ago.

“This is definitely a positive development in establishing the identities and whereabouts of Ces’ kidnappers,” he added.

Navy spokesperson Edgard Arevalo said elements of the 36th Marine Company monitored Jabarot lurking near the vicinity of Sincere grocery store in downtown Jolo, where his three comrades were arrested during a botched kidnap attempt Friday night.

Identity

“An immediate check by the Marines of photos on file revealed Jabarot’s identity despite him sporting longer hair and a beard,” said Arevalo.

When a squad of Marines swooped down near the grocery store at 11:10 p.m. Saturday, Jabarot immediately surrendered.

He later admitted that he is a member of the ASG when the Marines showed him an old video bearing his face.

Police identified the lone fatality as Adjili Sakilan. The three arrested were identified as Makambian Sakilan, his brother Tagayan; and one Asma Awang, all from Barangay Upper Sinumaan in Talipao town. Three or four others were able to flee. With reports from Tarra Quismundo and Agence France-Presse