Two wanted members of the Abu Sayyaf group (ASG) have been arrested in Metro Manila in separate operations launched by government agents led by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
NBI Director Dante Gierran identified the two arrested ASG men as Julmain and Anwar Sabarul Mohotoh, both allegedly involved in the 2002 kidnapping of six members Jehova’s Witness, two of whom were beheaded, in Patikul, Sulu.
Gierran said joint government operatives led by the NBI’s Counter Terrorism Division (NBI-CTD) captured the two suspected ASG members by virtue of arrest warrants issued by Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 266.
Both men are currently detained at the NBI’s detention facility while awaiting their transfer to the Special Intensive Care Area (SICA) in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.
Julmain and Anwar are among a number of suspected ASG members facing charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom before the RTC in connection with the 2002 Jehova’s Witness kidnapping incident.
NBI Assistant Director for Intelligence Eric Distor said the two were arrested after receiving information that they have been hiding in Manila.
Distor revealed that prior the arrests, surveillance operations were conducted against the suspects who were positively identified by their victims as among the persons who were involved in the kidnapping incident.
Anwar was arrested last July 12 in Quiapo, Manila, where he worked as a pedicab driver while Julmain was nabbed on July 17 in Culiat, Quezon City, where he operates a food stall.
Distor said Julmain had been under of slain ASG leader Isnilon Hapilon but remains an active member of the ASG’s Urban Terrorist Group-Special Operations Group
Julmain, who also trained under ASG leader Khadafy Janjalani, had allegedly been actively recruiting members into the group. (Jeffrey Damicog)
