17 Abu Sayyaf members detained in Basilan transferred to Bicutan

Seventeen Abu Sayyaf members detained in Basilan are transferred to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City on Friday. JOVIC YEE/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines—Seventeen Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members detained in Basilan Provincial Jail were flown to Manila on Friday noon, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology said.

The Abu Sayyaf members will be brought to Quezon City Jail Annex at Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

“The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology has requested for the transfer of the 17 (Abu Sayyaf members) from their facility in Zamboanga due to the threat that they might be rescued from detention by their comrades,” Armed Forces public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said at Camp Aguinaldo on Friday.

The 17 inmates have cases of kidnapping, murder and frustrated murder.

The alleged ASG members are the following:

Ali Alkis
Ashraf Kunting, alias Abu Remadan
Ali Sahibul, alias Asi Ismael Sahibul
Abu Muhalmin, alias Ustadz Muhalmin,
Abu Ismael,
Abu Akmad, alias Ahmad Kunting
Abu Abdul, alias Abdulaziz Kunting
Abu Daldal,
Abu Benjamin,
Aldri Danu,
Abu Nas,
Hapibin Saralun
Imam Arabani Jakiran
Abu Jaul,
Kanneh Malikil
Omar Eppong and
Usman Abu Sakaki

A BJMP report said the 17 ASG members were transported to Zamboanga Airport on Thursday night.

At 9:45 a.m. on Friday, the report said the suspects, escorted by 17 Basilan policemen and eight provincial guards, including the jail warden, left Zamboanga airport on a C-130 aircraft.

Lt. Col. Enrico Canaya, Air Force spokesperson, said the C-130 plane arrived at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City around 12 noon.

Sources said the high-risk inmates were allegedly involved in the Jan. 19 jailbreak in Zamboanga City involving the brother of ASG commander Furuji Indama, Benzar Indama.

Asked about the transfer, Philippine National Police spokesperson Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr. said law enforcement agencies would provide tight security to the inmates.

Cabunoc said there were no Abu Sayyaf leaders among the inmates and assured that the threat from the Abu Sayyaf would not spread in Metro Manila.

“I don’t think so,” Cabunoc said. “They are in a safe place which is not easily accessible.”