Abu Sayyaf man involved in Golden Harvest Plantation kidnapping nabbed in QC

NBI announces capture of alleged Abu Sayyaf member Albazir Abdulla, also known as Abu Saif. PHOTO COURTESY OF NBI

MANILA, Philippines — A member of Abu Sayyaf Group involved in the 2001 Golden Harvest Plantation kidnapping has been arrested in Quezon City, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Wednesday.

In a statement, NBI Director Eric Distor identified the arrested subject as Albazir Abdulla, also known as Abu Saif. He was arrested in a raid on Salam Compound in Barangay Culiat on September 10.

NBI’s counterterrorism division (CTD) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines conducted a series of surveillance activities to gather more information, which eventually revealed Abu Saif’s address.

“A victim-witness identified Abu Saif in a CTD photo line-up as one of the abductors and a member of the ASG,” Distor said.

Saif was the second member of  ASG to be arrested this year, aside from Wahab Jamal, who was arrested at Maharlika Village in Taguig in May, according to Distor.

Isnilon Hapilon and other ASG leaders led a raid on the Golden Harvest Plantation in Brgy. Tairan, Lantawan, Basilan Province in 2001.

They burned the chapel and detained 14 plantation workers, two of whom were later beheaded by the terrorist group, according to Distor.

The ASG captives were able to escape at different times when the government security forces conducted rescue operations following four months of captivity.

“After the incident, the ASG stayed in the mountains and some of its members assimilated back to society as ‘sleepers’ or ‘spies,’” Distor said.