‘Terrorist’ captured

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — An alleged associate of a slain Abu Sayyaf leader and Islamic State affiliate was captured following a raid in this city yesterday morning.

Isnirul Kirih, alias Kiri and Kirin, was arrested at around 8 a.m. in Barangay Sinunuc by a 13-member team of the 74th Special Action Force (SAF).

The government offered a P5.3-million bounty for Kirih’s arrest, according to Col. Richard Verceles, operations chief of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao.

Kirih was reportedly a close aide of the late  Abu Sayyaf leader and IS affiliate Isnilon Hapilon as well as of Radulan Sahiron, another Abu Sayyaf leader based in Sulu.

Maj. Dominador Mauricio, chief of the SAF’s 7th Special Action Battalion, said that Kirih was one of Hapilon‘s most trusted men.

Police said Kirih used other fictitious names such as Sakirin Kiram, Sakirin and Isnain Kiram to elude authorities.

The suspect ranked second in the list of the Bangsamoro police’s most wanted persons.

The Department of National Defense and the Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier offered a reward of P5.3 million for Kirih’s arrest.

Verceles said Kirih has standing arrest warrants for seven counts of murder and 25 counts of frustrated murder issued by a court in Sulu.

Police said the suspect was placed under the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.