2 months ago
18
A NOTORIOUS former Abu Sayyaf operative apparently linked to various criminal activities in Mindanao who has been on the run for 16 years was arrested by police trackers on Monday in Barangay Dita, Zamboanga City.
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III identified the ex-Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) member as Abu Raba, 52, one of the suspects allegedly involved in scores of kidnapping and serious illegal detention incidents in Basilan.
Torre said the CIDG in Basulta (Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi), particularly Sulu Provincial Field Unit, along with the 904th Mobile Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion, Police Regional Office 9, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency Region 9, Coast Guard Intelligence Group Southwestern Mindanao, Mindanao Area Police Intelligence Office, territorial police units and allied law enforcement agencies worked in a concerted effort for the arrest of the notorious suspect.
According to Torre, Raba was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest for kidnapping and serious illegal detention issued by Isabela City, Basilan Court in July 2009.
Reports reaching Torre revealed that Raba is a member of the command of ASG leader, the late Isnilon Hapilon of the ASG Basilan Base.
Get the latest news
delivered to your inbox
Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters
By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Based on records, Raba was allegedly involved in the Golden Harvest kidnapping incident in Tairan, Lantawan, Basilan, in 2001, as well as extortion, armed encounters, killings and ambuscades of military forces in Basilan province.
In 2009, an arrest warrant was issued against Abu Raba, prompting him to go on hiding and had frequently changed residences to elude authorities tracking him.
He also went to other islands of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and Zamboanga to evade arrest until relentless CIDG operatives finally arrested him.
"I commend the CIDG Basulta Provincial Field Units, particularly the Sulu Provincial Field Unit for capturing this fugitive who has been on the run for almost 16 years," Torre said.
"Thank you for your persistence and unyielding effort in pursuing and finally catching the suspect who is transferring from Basilan to Zamboanga. With this arrest today, we helped the victims attain the justice they all deserved," he said.
