2 Abu Sayyaf men tagged in Palawan abduction fall

MANILA, Philippines - Two suspected Abu Sayyaf members tagged in the abduction of missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham and 18 other foreign and local tourists from a resort in Palawan in 2001 were arrested in separate operations in Manila and Basilan, authorities said.

The two were identified as Jumadail Arad and Abubakar Macrohon alias Abu Masawi, said to be a follower of Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon.

In a statement, the Philippine Navy said its intelligence operatives and elements of the Southern Police District arrested Arad, said to be the speedboat operator when the Burnham couple and their fellow tourists were kidnapped from the Palawan resort in May 2001.

Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said Arad, who was using the aliases Abu Hurayra and Asim Mangkabong Absar, was arrested at North Harbor’s Pier 2 in Manila while on board a shipping firm’s shuttle bus Thursday afternoon for his trip to Zamboanga City.

Arad is facing charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention, murder, and frustrated murder.

“He (Arad) initially denied his identity when he was accosted by the lawmen but had to later on submit himself to the arresting authorities when he was presented with his photographs attached to his arrest warrant,” Arevalo said.  

Arad, who hails from Patikul, Sulu, was believed to have been tasked by Hapilon to buy ammunition when he was captured. He is now under the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP).  

In a report to Navy Vice Admiral Ferdinand Golez, Marine Corps commandant Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban said Arad laid low after key Abu Sayyaf leaders Aldam Tilao alias Abu Sabaya, Hamsiraji Sali, and Khadaffy Janjalani were killed in separate encounters with the military.

Arad had gone into hiding since 2001 and was believed to have roamed around various parts of Metro Manila and Mindanao.

“Arad falsely believed that he had already eluded arrest after a lapse of more than nine years,” Arevalo said.

 “These bandits may run for a while, but they cannot run and elude arrest forever,” he added.

Macrohon, meanwhile, was captured in a bank in Isabela City, Basilan by intelligence agents of the 9th Regional Mobile Group Thursday morning, said Senior Superintendent Antonio Mendoza, Basilan police director.

Macrohon faced an arrest warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 261 of the National Capital Judicial Region in Pasig City for the Palawan abduction.

“The long arm of the law once again caught up with the criminal elements of our society. We will continue to do this 24/7 until we account for all wanted persons in the country who have victimized innocent civilians,” said PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said.

The Burnhams were Protestant missionaries connected with the Florida-based group New Tribes Mission and were among the 20 people abducted by the Abu Sayyaf in the Palawan resort.

They were celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary in the upscale resort when they were taken by the bandits and then brought to Basilan via a speedboat.

Also among those kidnapped was American-Peruvian Guillermo Sobero, who was beheaded by the bandits in June 2001 as an “Independence Day” gift to President Arroyo.

In 2002, Martin Burnham, along with Filipina nurse Ediborah Yap, was killed during an Army rescue operation. Gracia, however, survived and managed to write the book “In the Presence of My Enemies” which recounted their ordeal.

In 2007, the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 69 sentenced 14 suspects in the abduction with life imprisonment but acquitted four others due to lack of evidence. – With Roel Pareño and Cecille Suerte Felipe