Suspected Abu Sayyaf member arrested in Sulu hospital

MANILA, Philippines — A member of the notorious bandit Abu Sayyaf Group was arrested on Saturday afternoon while he was confined in a hospital in Jolo, Sulu.

Kadaffy Kamsa was apprehended by police and military operatives at around 5:20 pm. Saturday as he was recuperating at the Sulu Provincial Hospital for injuries he sustained in a vehicular accident.

However, his two cohorts who were also confined in the same facility managed to elude arrest by escaping from the hospital.

Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, commander of Joint Task Group Sulu, said Kamsa was an Abu Sayyaf member who took part in several abductions in Tawi-Tawi province and in Malaysia.

The arrest was planned and carried out after authorities received a tip about the presence of the three Abu Sayyaf members in the hospital.

The three reportedly met an accident when their vehicle collided with another vehicle in Old Panamao town in Sulu.

“These are the men utilized by subleaders Alhabsy Misaya and Angah Adji in kidnappings in Sabah, Malaysia,” Arrojado said.

After being taken into custody, Kamsa is now being guarded by policemen while he is still confined at the hospital.

He was charged with illegal possession of firearms and reckless imprudence resulting in serious physical injury for the vehicular accident he was involved in.

Arrojado added that military units have been alerted for possible retaliatory actions of the notorious Abu Sayyaf group, specifically targetting goverment troops and installations.

Kamsa’s arrest came a day after another Abu Sayyaf member, Saddam Jailani, was apprehended at the port of Jolo.  SFM