By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
MANILA – Authorities nabbed a member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who allegedly acted as a negotiator for the release of six kidnapping victims in 2015.
In a statement on Monday (Oct. 18), Brig. Gen. Rudolph Dimas, director of the Philippine National Police-Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG), said suspect Adzrimar Sali Ammat, also known as “Abu Omar”, 30, was arrested in Barangay Kampo Islam, Lower Calarian, Zamboanga City at around 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 15.
Dimas said Ammat has a standing warrant of arrest for kidnapping and serious illegal detention issued by the Bongao, Tawi-Tawi Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 5 in September 2019.
The suspect is temporarily detained at the AKG Mindanao Field Unit headquarters in Zamboanga City while waiting for a commitment order from the court.
Ammat acted as a negotiator for the release of the victims who were abducted by the ASG at the Holiday Oceanview Resort in Samal Island, Davao Del Norte on Sept. 21, 2015.
Two victims — Canadian nationals John Ridsdel and Robert Hall — were beheaded on Apr. 25, 2016 and June 13, 2016, respectively, both in Talipao, Sulu.
Two other victims, Norwegian national Kjartan Sekingstad and Maritess Flor, a Filipino, were released on June 24, 2016.
Two more victims who requested anonymity identified Ammat as their kidnapper. One of them was released in December 2015 while the other was released on June 2, 2016. (PNA) – bny
