Abu Sayyaf nabbed in Zamboanga City for Basilan abductions

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Police arrested an Abu Sayyaf member wanted for abductions in Basilan during a raid in Zamboanga City on Tuesday afternoon.

Chief Superintendent Billy Beltran, director of Police Regional Office 9, identified the arrested suspect as Langa Jamil Francisco, 52, a Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf member and resident of Barangay Tetuan in Zamboanga City.

Beltran said Francisco was captured by personnel of the 904th Mobile Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 9 and of Regional Intelligence Unit 9 at Barangay Sta. Barbara, about a kilometer from city hall.

According to Beltran, Francisco has a standing warrant of arrest for seven counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention issued by a Basilan court.
 
The case stemmed from his participation in the kidnapping of workers of Golden Harvest Plantation at Barangay Tairan in Lantawan, Basilan on June 11, 2001. The Abu Sayyaf group seized around 15 workers and later executed five of them.

Beltran said Francisco is the second Abu Sayyaf suspect arrested in the past two days.

He said Francisco was temporarily detained at the headquarters of the Regional Intelligence Unit for interrogation before being brought before the court in Basilan.