2 Abu Sayyaf leaders in kidnap held

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Two alleged ranking Abu Sayyaf leaders 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, identified the two alleged bandit leaders only 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 were now under custody of the AKG. Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao