Chief Superintendent Prospero Noble, Western Mindanao police director, identified the three as Jairola Hassan Maing, alias Commander Jairola Hassan and Hairon Hassan; Mamarin Pillay, alias Commander Panjang and Muhammaril Pillay; and Commander Adulkahal Abundol.
Maing and Abundol each carried a bounty of P400,000, and Pillay, P250,000.
Noble said the three had pending arrest warrants in connection with the attack on Siocon town on May 4, 2003 where seven policemen and six civilians were killed and 22 others were wounded. The attackers took 30 villagers hostage when they retreated.
Pillay was also implicated in the 2000 killing of the vice mayor of Sirawai town.
Noble said they were coordinating with the MILF’s ceasefire panel about the arrest of the three "lost command" leaders to avoid violating the truce.
Noble said the 9th Regional Mobile Group accosted the three while on board a Lizamay Express bus along the Maria Clara Lobregat Highway in Barangay Mercedes here at about 9 a.m. last Saturday.
The three claimed that they were en route to Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay allegedly upon the invitation of the international monitoring team helping oversee the ceasefire between the government and the MILF.
Their seven companions were released after brief interrogation, Noble said.