Another Abu Sayyaf member linked to kidnapping plantation workers nabbed

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Government security forces captured another Abu Sayyaf member tagged in the June 2001 kidnapping of plantation workers during a pre-dawn raid on Friday in Basilan province, police said.

 

The suspect identified as Bantong Basinti alias Bantong Basiri is said to be a follower of Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and involved in the kidnapping of eight plantation workers of Golden Harvest in Barangay Tairan in the town of Lantawan almost 15 years ago.  

 

The police said the raid led by the intelligence unit of the 530th Air Base Wing (ABW), 53rd and 54th Special Action Company of the Special Action Force (SAF), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and Basilan police arrested Basinti at 2:35 a.m in his safehouse in Barangay Bulansa in Lantawan town.

 

Basinti was the second Abu Sayyaf member involved in the Golden Harvest Plantation kidnapping who was captured in a span of four days.

 

The police reported that at least two other Abu Sayyaf suspects were also arrested separately last week in an island off this city.

 

Basinti was temporarily detained by the CIDG for further questioning.