Abu Sayyaf leaders in BI hold list

Two suspected members of the notorious Abu Sayyaf kidnapping group were placed yesterday in the Bureau of Immigration’s watch list following intelligence reports that they were leaving the country, Commissioner Rufus Rodriguez said yesterday.

Rodriguez said Suhod Salasin and Ustadz Nur Mohammad Omug were included in the immigration watchlist at the request of the Philippine Army’s Intelligence and Security Group which alerted the Bureau of Immigration on their plan to go to Iran.

Rodriguez said he was informed by Col. Victor Ibrado that Salasin and Omug have just been granted Islamic scholarships by the Philippine Muslim Youth Congress and are scheduled to leave the country to study at the Islamic University in Tehran, Iran.

The immigration chief also said that the two have pending arrest warrants issued by a regional trial court in Isabela, Basilan under Judge Danilo Bugoy.

The arrest warrants were issued in connection with charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention filed against the suspects and more than 94 other members of the Abu Sayyaf operating in Basilan.

Under immigration rules, a passenger who is in the bureau’s watchlist can be barred from leaving the country unless he secures the proper clearance from the authorities who requested his inclusion in the list.

A watchlist order, however, is only effective for a period of not more than 90 days or until a hold departure order is issued against the person involved. – Rey Arquiza