Two alleged Abu Sayyaf members arrested in separate police operations

November 20, 2020

Two alleged members of the Abu Sayyaf were arrested in a separate counter-intelligence operations in Basilan on Friday morning.

Brig. Ge.n Bernabe Balba, acting director of PNP Special Action Force (SAF) disclosed that an operation was launched to implement a search warrant for illegal possession of explosives and ammunition against a certain Ranger Siason.

The raiding team arrested Siason after a cache of explosives were found in his residence in Purok 1, Brgy. Aguada, Isabela City.

Confiscated were two fragmentation grenades, two 40mm high explosive shells, 30 rounds of 5.56mm rifle ammunition, four kilograms of ammonium nitrate/fuel oilexplosives, six cal.50 shells, and an ISIS flag.

In another operation around 4:45 am, Munjiral Kabole was arrested after police officers implemented a warrant of arrest for kidnapping and serious illegal detention against him in Barangay Saluping of the island municipality of Tabuan-Lasa, Basilan.

Police Brig Gen Ildebrandi Usana, PNP spokesperson said police records identified Siason as an associate of the Abu Sayyaf based in Basilan responsible for the procurement and transport of explosives and ammunition for the terrorist group.

He said Siason is also being sought for alleged involvement in the Abu Sayyaf rampage in Barangay Tubigan, Maluso, Basilan last August 1, 2017 where nine residents were massacred and a cluster of houses were burned.

Kabole on the other hand, is principal suspect in the kidnapping of Hja Sadday Jalal sometime in 2009 in Sumisip, Basilan.

Usana said he is also involved in the series of attacks on police and military forces in Basilan.

He added Kabole is under of the command of the notorious ASG Sub-Leader Pasil Bayali.

PNP chief General Debold Sinas commended the operating units for the effective execution of the counter terrorism operations even as he reiterated his instructions to intensify law enforcement efforts against domestic threat groups and terrorist organizations, particularly the Abu Sayyaf Group, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF), and the communist New People’s Army.

The PNP will file criminal charges against Siason for illegal possession of explosives and ammunition while Kabole will be presented to the court for the procedural return of warrant. Ella Dionisio/DMS