(UPDATE) Abu Sayyaf militant nabbed in Basilan

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - A member of terror group Abu Sayyaf, who was charged with kidnapping, was arrested in southern Philippines yesterday, a military officer said today.

Lieutenant Colonel Eliglen Villaflor, commander of the Philippine Army's 4th Special Forces Battalion, identified the suspect as Ismael Cawa alias Abu Ismael. Cawa was nabbed in Makiri village, Isabela City in Basilan province at 10 a.m., Wednesday.

Villaflor said the Abu Sayyaf member was arrested by virtue of a standing warrant of arrest issued by a Basilan judge in connection with his involvement in the abduction of plantation workers in 2001.

Dozens of Golden Harvest Plantation's workers in Tairan village, Lantaran town in Basilan province were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf in June 2001. Three of the victims were killed.