Suspected Abu Sayyaf member nabbed in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Police and military personnel captured a suspected Abu Sayyaf member tagged in kidnappings in Basilan in a law enforcement operation in this city on Saturday.

The suspect, identified as Aldimar Sangkula (alias Abu Paab), was arrested about 10:15 a.m. by the joint government operatives, according to Chief Superintendent Miguel Antonio Jr., police director for Western Mindanao.

The joint police operatives and intelligence members of the Air Force, Navy and Army under Joint Task Group Zamboanga (JTGZ) spotted Sangkula near a mall at the junction of Barangay San Roque and Suterville.

Sangkula, a resident of sitio Kapuk Village, Barangay Calarian, has a standing warrant for seven counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom issued by Judge Leo Jay Principe of the Regional Trial Court of Isabela City, Basilan.

The suspect will be detained at the city police office pending his transfer to the court.

Sangkula was the second suspected Abu Sayyaf member to fall within 24 hours. Security forces also arrested suspected Abu Sayyaf member Toh Ventura Abdilla (alias Toh Abdulla) in a coastal village here on Friday.