Suspected ASG member tagged in 2001 plantation kidnapping arrested in Taguig

May 12, 2021

By ABOGADO.COM.PH Staff

A suspected member of terror group Abu Sayyaf was arrested by combined operatives in Barangay Maharlika Village, Taguig City.

National Bureau of Investigation Officer-In-Charge Eric B. Distor identified the suspect as Wahab Jamal aka “Ustadz Usman Halipa” who was arrested last Friday on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court of Basilan for kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

The suspect’s arrest stemmed from an information that he was seen by witnesses in Maharlika Village recently. He was also identified in police’s ‘rogues’ gallery.’

After validating the information, the NBI learned that suspect was implicated in the Golden Harvest Plantation kidnapping in 2001 at Tairan, Lantawan, Basilan province.

Last May 7, 2021, a joint operation was conducted by operatives of the NBI-Counter-Terrorism Division and counterparts from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police resulted in the arrest of the suspect.

He is now detained at the NBI Detention Center in Manila.

“He may have eluded the law for almost 20 years but its long arm has finally caught up with him. Let me assure the public that the NBI will be unwavering in its drive to run after the members of this terrorist group,” Distor said.

To date, the NBI has already arrested 27 members of the ASG since 2018.#