2 Abu Sayyaf in kidnap of American missionaries fall

MANILA, Philippines — Police have arrested two Abu Sayyaf members tagged in the kidnapping of American missionaries Gracia and Martin Burnham in Palawan in 2001.

The two were presented yesterday at a press conference by National Bureau of Investigation director Dante Gierran and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa at NBI headquarters in Manila.

Hood Abdullah, alias “Jiking” and Jimmy Bla, alias “Sapih” were arrested in separate operations in Zamboanga City last month. The suspects were cornered in Barangay Sta. Maria and Barangay Rio, both in Zamboanga City, by a combined team of the NBI, Armed Forces of the Philippines-Naval Special Operations Group, AFP Western Mindanao Command, PNP Regional Office 9 and the Zamboanga Police last Feb. 27.

The two were among the bandits who took about 20 hostages on May 27, 2001 at an island resort in Palawan.

Abdullah was a sleeper agent working as a security guard in a motel in Zamboanga and responsible for eyeing prospective victims. Bla provided the Abu with material and logistical support.

Former kidnap victims who turned witnesses positively identified the suspects, said Gierran.

Abdullah was positively identified as the person who handcuffed  Martin at the Dos Palmas Resort while Bla, an explosives expert, was said to have guided bandits in Sulu terrain.

The NBI said it received information and technical support from the Australian Federal Police during the operations against the suspects.

Martin Burnham was killed in a subsequent operation in June 2002 in Zamboanga peninsula while Gracia was rescued.