2 more Abu Sayyaf involved in Golden Harvest incident arrested

January 27, 2018

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Police have arrested two alleged members of the Abu Sayyaf involved in the kidnapping of plantation workers 16 years ago in Basilan, an official announced Saturday.

The arrest of the suspects were part of the series of apprehensions the authorities have made this with the assistance of witnesses who are under the government’s Witness Protection and Security Benefit Program (WPSBP).

Chief Supt. Billy Beltran, regional police director, identified the apprehended suspects as Rabulat Balito and Issa Sampang alias Sonny Abubakar.

Beltran said Balito was arrested around 7:50 a.m. Friday in Barangay Recodo, this city while Sampang around 7 a.m. Saturday in Barangay Mariki, also in this city.

Beltran said Balito and Sampang have standing warrants of arrest for their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of workers at the Golden Harvest Plantation in Barangay Tairan, Lantawan, Basilan province on June 11, 2001.

He said they were identified by witnesses who are under the witness protection program of the Department of Justice (COJ).

The witnesses informed the police there were some 70 Abu Sayyaf members who were involved in the kidnapping of plantation workers.

Balito and Sampang were the sixth and seventh members of the Abu Sayyaf involved in kidnapping of plantation workers who were arrested by the authorities this year in this city.

The others are Mudrim Isnani; Emran Ismael; Bryan Mohammad; Puyat Saiyadi, and, Faizal Sariul, 35.

The Abu Sayyaf seized 15 workers when they raided the Golden Harvest Plantation

They beheaded some hostages while others escaped or were rescued by pursuing military forces. DMS