ZAMBOANGA CITY — Police here arrested two followers of Isnilon Hapilon, the slain Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader and emir of the Islamic State for Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the police reported Saturday.
Chief Supt. Billy Beltran, Police Regional Office (PRO) 9 director, identified them as Sammer Lanjang, who carried the aliases of Abu Sammer and Abu Ziad, and a certain Abu Askabal.
Both were followers of Hapilon, who was killed by government troops during the five-month war last year when the ISIS-inspired Maute group tried to take over Marawi City.
Beltran said Lanjang and Askabal were arrested in a law enforcement operation at around 10:30 a.m. Thursday in front of a fast food chain on Zaragosa Street, Barangay Zone 4, this city.
He said they have standing warrants of arrest for the crimes of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with no recommended bail issued by the court in Isabela City, Basilan province.
He said they were allegedly involved in the kidnapping of 15 workers on June 11, 2001 at the Golden Harvest Plantation in Barangay Tairan, Lantawan, Basilan.
The ASG executed by beheading five of the 15 workers while remaining 10 have either escaped or rescued by pursuing military forces.
Beltran said Lanjang and Askabal were positively identified by witnesses who are under the witness protection program and security benefit program (WPSBP) of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Since January this year, 13 ASG members involved in the Golden Harvest Plantation attack were apprehended by government operatives.
Of the total, 12 of them were arrested in Zamboanga City while one in Isabela City, Basilan province. (PNA)
