4 Sayyaf-linked gang members arrested in Zamboanga Sibugay

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines —A leader of a criminal gang and his three followers said to have links with Abu Sayyaf bandits were arrested in Zamboanga Sibugay on Friday.

Abral Abdusalam and his followers Janhar Abdulhari Martin, Hamid Attan Abdusalam and Marvin Kasim were arrested based on warrants issued by a local court, Brig. Gen. Neil Alinsañgan, Zamboanga peninsula police director, said.

Joint police units from Kabasalan, RT Lim, Imelda and Alicia towns were assisted by personnel of the 5th Special Action Company of the Special Action Front, Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Mobile Force Company and 44th Infantry Battalion in serving the warrants.

Abral was ranked third on the list of most wanted persons in the province. He has standing warrants for kidnapping and serious illegal detention and murder.

The Abdusalam gang was tagged in the kidnapping of Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi in Payao town in 2007 and Irish missionary Michael Sinnott in Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur in 2009.