Abu Sayyaf bandit arrested at Zamboanga port

ZAMBOANGA CITY - A suspected Abu Sayyaf member who was about to sneak into the city by mixing with arriving passengers amid the implementation of a “no ID, no entry” policy was arrested Tuesday.

Joint Task Force Zamboanga Commander Leonel Nicolas identified the arrested Abu Sayyaf bandit as Kimhar Asusi, alias Abu Kimar, 32, a resident of the village of Bawisan, Parang, Sulu.

Asusi was nabbed at 6:05 a.m. Tuesday, May 30, right after disembarking from a passenger ferry that docked at the local port coming from Jolo, Sulu.

Nicolas said a fragmentation grenade was recovered from Asusi, who has a standing warrant of arrest for two counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom.

Asusi was involved in an armed clash with First Scout Ranger Battalion troops at Sitio Marang in the village of Buanza, Indanan, Sulu, where two kidnapped coast guard personnel were recovered in August 2015, said Nicolas.

The two coast guard personnel together with a village official were kidnapped in the island village of Aliguay, Dapitan City. Both were able to escape but the village official was killed for failure to pay ransom.

Asusi was the first member of the Abu Sayyaf who was arrested since the “no ID, no entry” policy took effect on Friday, May 26.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has ordered the imposition of the “no ID, no entry” policy in a bid to shut possible access to terrorists and lawless elements into the city.

The move is part of the heightened security measures implemented in the city following the Marawi incident that prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao.

Checkpoints have also been established in the east and west coast of the city to strictly implement the "no ID, no entry" policy. (SunStar Philippines)