17 alleged Abus moved to Bicutan jail

MANILA, Philippines - Seventeen alleged members of the bandit group Abu Sayyaf, who were detained at the Basilan Provincial Jail, were transferred to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City yesterday.

Ali Alkis; Ashraf Kunting, alias Abu Remadan; Ali Sahibul, alias Asi Ismael Sahibul; Abu Muhalmin, alias Ustadz Muhalmin; Abu Ismael; Abu Akmad, alias ahmad Kunting; Abu Abdul, alias Abdulaziz Kunting, Abu Daldal; Abu Benjamin; Aldri Danu; Abu Nas; Hapibin Saralun; Imam Arabani Jakiran; Abu Jaul; Kanneh Malikil; Omar Eppong and  Usman Abu Sakaki are facing kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges at the Basilan Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 9.

Camp Bagong Diwa is where members of the Ampatuan clan and some suspected terrorists are detained. Records show the Supreme Court ordered the detainees’ transfer on Sept. 18, 2014.

Basilan jail warden Abdulhussin Atalad, who escorted the detainees, said they brought the prisoners to the Pasig RTC, which handled the cases. 

Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said any attempt to rescue the detainees from the police camp will fail. – With Alexis Romero