MANILA: A municipal councilor of Sulu was arrested by policemen here after he was linked to the kidnapping in Sipadan, Sabah in year 2000.
Arrested was Jamar Estrada Gonzales, a retired police inspector and an incumbent councilor of Pandami municipality in Sulu, the Daily Zamboanga Times (DZT) reported Friday.
Gonzales’ son told DZT that they were aboard a vessel bound for Sulu last Wednesday night when the policemen arrived and arrested his father.
Gonzales was taken to the city police office for investigation.
His relatives have denied Gonzales took part in the Sipadan kidnapping.
They questioned the legality of his arrest, saying it has no basis as the police did not present a warrant of arrest.
DZT tried to get a statement from the police but those handling the case were not immediately available.
Also arrested yesterday was Abu Darren in Baliwasan Seaside.
Darren was arrested on the strength of warrant for murder issued by the Regional Trial Court in Panabo, Davao City.
21 hostages in Sipadan crisis
Police said that some members of the Abu Sayyaf Group are in the city on a mission to stage bomb attacks.
On April 23, 2000, six armed Abu Sayyaf guerrillas abducted 21 multi-nationals holidaying in Sipadan island, in Sabah waters.
Taken hostage were 10 tourists from Europe and the Middle East and 11 Malaysian resort workers and 19 non-Filipinos.
The hostages were taken to an Abu Sayyaf base in Jolo, Sulu.
During the hostage taking, Abu Sayyaf issued various demands for the release of several prisoners, including 1993 World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Yousef, US$2.4 million (RM7.2 mil) and a complete withdrawal of government troops from the area around Jolo where the hostages were being held.
The Philippine army launched a major offensive on September 16, 2000, rescuing all remaining hostages, except Filipino dive instructor Roland Ullah. Ullah was eventually freed in 2003.
FMT
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