Another Sayyaf man arrested in Metro

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested another suspected Abu Sayyaf terrorist while dating his girlfriend at Robinsons Place in Malate, Manila yesterday.

Asdatul Sahirun, who also goes by the aliases Abu Nawas and Kirih Hamid Sahiron, was arrested on the strength of a warrant issued by Judge Leo Jay Principe of Basilan Regional Trial Court Branch 1, according to Metro Manila police commander Chief Superintendent Alan Purisima.

He did not resist when shown the warrant of arrest, Purisima added.

Sahirun, who carries a P3.3-million bounty on his head, was wanted for nine counts of murder and four counts of frustrated murder.

Purisima said Sahirun was hiding in Metro Manila from troops hunting him down in Basilan after Principe issued the warrant for his arrest on July 26, 2007.

Intelligence director Chief Superintendent Manny Barcena said Sahirun’s arrest was a product of several weeks of surveillance.

“We have been working on his arrest for several weeks after we were tipped off by an informant of his presence in Metro Manila until we hit pay dirt,” he said.

Sahirun is now undergoing tactical interrogation at the National Capital Region Police Office, Purisima said.

Sahirun was the second Abu Sayyaf suspect arrested in Metro Manila since US forces killed al-Qaeda chieftain Osama bin Laden in Pakistan last May 2.

Last Friday, police arrested suspected Abu Sayyaf terrorist Imam Arabani Jakiran while working as a security guard in Taguig.