Army arrests suspected Abu Sayyaf hitman in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA City, Philippines - Elite Army troopers and police captured a suspected hit squad leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sumisip, Basilan on Tuesday afternoon.

Col. Eliglen Villaflor, commander of the 4th Special Forces Battalion (SFB), identified the captured suspect as Imran Daiyong Mijal alias Boh, leader of the ASG's Urban Terrorist Group (UTG) in Basilan.

Villaflor said Mijal was captured following a brief shootout with the 4th Special Forces Battalion troopers backed by the 64th Infantry Battalion and local police while serving the warrant of arrest at about 5:20 p.m. in Barangay Marang-marang.

Villaflor said Mijal was hit and wounded on his right arm during the brief shootout which led to his arrest.

The military official said Mijal was wanted for his alleged involvement in bombing, extortion and kidnapping activities of the bandit group.

Troops recovered an M16-A1 assault rifle, a rifle grenade, a .45 caliber pistol from Mijal.