Alleged Abu Sayyaf member nabbed in Sulu – military

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A suspected Abu Sayyaf member, believed to be behind a recent raid on a village in Sulu that left three civilians killed, was arrested on Wednesday, a ranking military officer said.

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of Joint Task Group Sulu, said Norham Bagadi, a cousin of notorious Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Aldin Bagadi a.k.a Abu Sayning, was arrested around 9:15 a.m. Wednesday in Langpas village, Indanan town.

Sobejana said the 6th Infantry Battalion, with the active support of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), had tracked down Bagadi a day after his group harassed a community in Indanan town.

“Norham Bagadi was part of the harassment (incident) against a community in barangay Langpas on December 5 killing at least 3 innocent civilians and wounding of others,” Sobejana said.

Recovered from the suspect were caliber 45 pistol (Remington 1911), magazines, rounds of ammunition, and blasting caps. Norham is presently undergoing custodial debriefing before his turnover to the police.             /kga