POLICEMEN arrested Friday morning a sub-leader of the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group in his hiding place in Barangay Cawit in Zamboanga City, Superintendent Rogelio Alabata, public information officer of the Regional Police Office 9, said.
Alabata identified the terrorist as Faizal Jaafar, who is also known under several other aliases like Jaafar Mundi, Abu Jaafar, Aren, and Ben/Abu Raba.
“The terrorist was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest at around 12:30 p.m. today by combined operatives from the National Intelligence Service Group, 4th Company of Regional Public Safety Battalion 9 and intelligence operatives of Zamboanga City Police Office,” Alabata said.
He said Jaafar was wanted for 87 counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention stemming from the Sipadan kidnapping incident in 2001. He has also a pending murder case. The charges were docketed in the sala of Judge Danilo Bucoy of the Regional Trial Court Branch 9 in Isabela City and Judge Chito Meregillano of RTC Branch 51 in Puerto Princesa City.
Meanwhile, a military intelligence officer said they have reports that Jaafar was recruited by ASG sub-leader Isnilon Hapilon to join him in Central Mindanao, particularly in Butig town in Lanao del Sur.
Butig is the lair of the Maute Group led by brothers Omar and Mohammad.
“We’re verifying such reports and doubly working on the ground to prevent ASG members from Basilan and Sulu to join the Maute group,” the officer said in anonymity.
On Thursday, Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Hapilon has been in Central Mindanao since the middle of December last year at the behest of the Daesh, also known as Islamic State.
He said Hapilon brought with him a handful of followers and is now working together with the Maute group in Butig.