A former member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who was wanted for kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges was arrested in Isabela City, Basilan.

Police and other law enforcement agencies arrested the suspect by virtue of warrants issued by a court in Isabela City. The court did not allow the suspect to post bail.

The Police Regional Office-Zamboanga (PRO-9) said the suspect was among the most wanted persons in the country under the joint order of the Department of National Defense (DND) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) with a P600,000 bounty for his capture.

PRO-9 said the suspect was a former ASG member under sub-leaders Ustadz Kalah, Khadaffy Janjalani, and Isnilon Hapilon.

He was allegedly involved in the Lamitan City siege in 2000 and played a role in the series of kidnappings in Basilan and the Zamboanga Peninsula.

The suspect is now under the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Grou-Zamboanga (CIDG-9).

“I commend the operatives involved on the service of warrant of arrest in Isabela City wherein a national level most wanted preson was arrested on September 23, 2024 for the crime of kidnapping. Ang PRO-9 kasama ang aming partner agencies ay nakatutok sa pag aresto ng mga indibidwal na may kinakaharap na kaso lalong-lalo na ang mga sangkot sa terorismo at kidnapping,” PRO-9 Director, Brigadier General Bowenn Joey Masauding, said.