The joint police and military operations led to the arrest of Haik Asgali also known as Abu Aswad of Jolo City around 5 p.m. on December 25.
The police report said Aswad will undergo debriefing while awaiting his transfer to Zamboanga City.
Aswad is a trusted operative of Abu Sayyaf leader Radullan Sahiron in Patikul, Sulu, according to the report.
Aswad reportedly led the kidnapping of Elwold Horn, a 52-year-old Dutch national; Lorenzo Vinciguerra, a 47-year-old Swiss national, and Ivan Sarenas from Davao, on February 1, 2012. The three were abducted by five armed suspects in Sitio Look-Look, Barangay Parangan, Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi.
The three wildlife photographers who were on a birdwatching expedition were seized while on board a pump boat.
Sarenas, who served as the local guide of the foreign nationals, was able to escape by jumping out of the speeding pump boat.
Sr. Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac, Philippine National Police public information chief, said Thursday there is no report yet if the two birdwatchers have already been released.
"'Yung mga biktima na nandun pa sa mga kanilang mga captors ay inaalam natin kung ano ang tamang impormasyon tungkol dito. They are still alive—based on the reports. They say na buhay pa sila based on the reports but we do not have evidence to that," PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima said during a press conference on Thursday.
"Iniimbestigahan din natin lahat 'yan. Kumbaga sa... no, we don’t want to give details. Tinatrabaho pa rin natin as of now," Purisima added.
Horn and Vinciguerra were last seen February in Patikul, Sulu.
The two were supposed to attend the 6th International Hornbill Conference held in Manila in April.
By Amita O. Legaspi
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