By MARTIN SADONGDONG
A SUSPECTED member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who worked as a welder while staying in Metro Manila has been arrested in Ermita, Manila.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde identified the suspect as Abdurahman Mataud Daiyung alias “Biznar Salabudin” and “Abu Talha,” an alleged ASG member under the command of slain leader Isnilon Hapilon.
Daiyung was nabbed by police and military forces inside his house at the corner of M.H. Del Pilar Street and Padre Faura on Sunday morning on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Leo Jay Principe of the Regional Trial Court Branch 1 of Isabela City, Basilan .
He was tagged in the Kidapawan bomb attack in 2012, a kidnapping incident in Basilan in 2001 and the
infamous Kidapawan City bus terminal bombing on October 10, 2012 which left seven people dead and two dozen others wounded, according to Albayalde.
Daiyung was also accused in seven separate criminal cases for kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with his alleged participation in the kidnapping of 15 employees of Golden Harvest Plantation in Barangay Tairan, Lantawan, Basilan on June 11, 2001.
According to National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Guillermo Eleazar, Daiyung was nabbed following the arrest of another Abu Sayyaf member who revealed his whereabouts to the police.
“Ang pagkakahuli natin sa kanya ay offshoot ng arrest ng isa niyang kasamahan last December before the Traslacion. Remember that we had a joint operation with the PNP-Intelligence Group that led to the arrest of that suspect, who was also one of the respondents or wanted persons in the kidnapping incident in the Golden Harvest plantation,” Eleazar said.
Eleazar was referring to Sudais Asmad alias “Sen,” “Abu Nas,” “Suhud” and “Jul,” an alleged member of ASG under the command of Furuji Indama. He was arrested by police forces in Binondo, Manila, on December 20, 2018.
Eleazar said Daiyung visited other Abu Sayyaf terrorists in various parts of Manila.
He said intelligence operatives have yet to confirm the number of Abu Sayyaf terrorists staying in Manila.
“We don’t have the figures. Probably mayroong supporters at symphatizers,” the Metro Manila police chief said.
However, Eleazar assured that the streets of Metro Manila remain free from terrorist attacks as no credible information on security threats are monitored by the police.
“Pero hindi natin pwedeng i-discount ‘yong possibility na nagpa-plano sila ng ganoon kaya nga tuluy-tuloy ang ating disruption activities. This is one disruption na ginagawa ng ating kapulisan in coordination with our AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] counterparts,” he added.
Eleazar also said there is no cause for public alarm despite the arrest of Abu Sayyaf members in Manila.
“Ang Abu Sayyaf kasi mayroong mga inactive, mayroong mga active at mayroong ibang sympathizers at supporters. In the case doon sa naaresto natin, right now, dine-determine natin kung active member kasi ang base ng arrest natin sa kanya is ‘yung warrant of arrest for the case that had happpened a long time ago,” he explained.
