Police capture Abu member in Basilan raid

ZAMBOANGA CITY ,Philippines  – Combined police forces captured an Abu Sayyaf member during a raid pre-dawn Sunday in the house of a former town mayor in Basilan province, according to officials. 

The suspect, tagged to be involved in the 2001 Lamitan siege, was identified as Nawaf Jainuddin, according to Basilan police provincial director Superintendent Alex Linesis. 

He said joint elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and police Special Action Force (SAF) conducted search at the house of former Tuburan mayor Hajarun Jamiri at sitio Patikul, Barangay Matatag, Lamitan City.

Linesis said the raid was covered by a search warrant issued by Judge Reynerio Estacio, Branch 14 Regional Trial Court of the 9th Judicial Region in this city. 

He said the search was witnessed by village officials that led the security forces in the recovery of two homemade shotguns, a hand grenade, cellphones and a pair of camouflage uniform.

“The team arrested Nawaf Jainuddin, an ASG member covered with warrant of arrest in connection with the Lamitan siege in June 2001,” Linesis said. 

The suspect was brought to the CIDG regional office and placed under tactical interrogation before he will be transferred to Basilan jail for proper filing of charges.