Two suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group (ASG) have been arrested in Metro Manila by government authorities led by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
NBI Assistant Director for Intelligence Service Eric Distor identified the two arrested men as Ibno Ismael and Totoni Hairon.
Operatives of the NBI and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) first arrested Ismael last June 26 in Maharlika, Taguig City. He had been hiding using the name Pawwad Jamda and working at a construction site.
Hairon was later arrested on June 28 during follow-up operations in South Harbor in Manila where he was working as a security guard.
The arrests were made based on the arrest warrants issued against them by the Basilan Regional Trial Court (RTC).
The two are facing before the RTC eight counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges in connection with the 2001 Golden Harvest kidnapping case.
The two men are currently held at the NBI’s detention facility and will be transferred to the Zamoboanga City Jail. (Jeffrey Damicog)
