Abu Sayyaf suspected of involvement in 17 year-old Malaysian resort kidnap arrested

March 21, 2018

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Police and military operatives arrested an Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) member suspected of involvement in the kidnapping of 21 people, including Europeans, 17 years ago in a Malaysian resort, a police official said Wednesday.

Chief Supt. Billy Beltran, regional police director, said arrested was Suraidi, who carries the aliases of Dad and Amdak Jumah.

Beltran said Suraidi was arrested around 5:40 p.m. Tuesday in Barangay Sta. Barbara here.

Beltran said Suraidi has a warrant of arrest for kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom.

He said Suraidi belongs to the group of slain ASG senior leader Albader Parad and was involved in April 23, 2000 kidnapping of 23 people in Sipadan island diving resort, Palau, Sabah, Malaysia.

The ASG got the hostages that included 10 Europeans, nine Malaysians and two Filipinos, to the forest of Sulu, where they were released in months later.

Beltran said Suraidi also served as the trusted man of slain ASG leader Alhabsy Misaya.

Parad was killed in a clash with government forces on February 21, 2010 in Maimbung, Sulu while Misaya was killed on April 28, 2017 in Parang town, Sulu.

Beltran said Suraidi was taken to the regional police intelligence office for debriefing and eventual turnover to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for temporary custody and proper disposition. DMS