Alleged Abu Sayyaf sub-leader arrested in Zamboanga Sibugay

August 27, 2020

Authorities arrested an alleged Abu Sayyaf (ASG) sub-leader in Zamboanga Sibugay last Wednesday.

Brig. General Jesus Cambay Jr, Zamboanga regional police director, said Jamiul Nassalon who uses several aliases such as  Ustad Amih, Abu Harris, Abu Janar, Abu Jamih was arrested by operatives during a law enforcement operation at Barangay Caliran, Mabuhay in Zamboanga Sibugay around 4am.

Cambay said Nassalo are facing warrants of arrest for serious illegal detention with ransom, multiple attempted murder, both are non-bailable, and attempted murder with recommended bail bond of P 120,000.

“Jamiul Nassalon was arrested after a 3-hour travel using high-speed sea craft which surreptitiously entered the shorelines of Mabuhay municipality, taking advantage of the darkness of the night; unknown to him that a police asset and the members of Barangay Intelligence Network (BINs) had been monitoring his activities,” he said.

Cambay said Nassalon was organizing his group intended for another terrorist  activity within the Zamboanga Peninsula.

In 2009, Nassalon was a member of the Abu Sayyaf  and became notorious for his participation in various heinous crimes.

He was tagged as the mastermind in the kidnapping and beheading of Doroteo Gonzales in 2009 at Barangay Buenavista and known for his involvement in the bus terminal bombing in Guiwan in 2012.

Cambay said the suspect got involved in the massacre of eight fishermen in Siromon waters, Barangay Dita last January 9, 2017 and strafing of Rural Bus in KM-57, Barangay Buenavista on February 14, of the same year.

“His terroristic activities have caused death and injuries of considerable number of persons and damaged substantial amounts of property,” he said.

Cambay said their efforts are in line with the PNP chief General Archie Gamboa’s directive to intensify target hardening, initiate security measures, conduct social investigations and serving warrants of arrest against members of threat groups to prevent and disrupt their terroristic plan in the region.

Cambay thanked the community for reporting the presence of Nassalo and assured the people of Zamboanga Peninsula that the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement units will continue to pursue all terrorist groups  in the area. Ella Dionisio/DMS