Sulu Lady Village Chief involved in kidnapping foreigners, arrested

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (Nov. 6, 2016) - Authorities arrested a barangay chief involved in kidnapping in a joint law enforcement operation in Kilometer 2, Indanan, Sulu Saturday morning, military official said.

Joint Task Force Sulu (JTF Sulu) Information Officer Col. Rodrigo Gregorio identified the arrested suspect as Brgy. Chairwoman Fauzia Abdulla of Brgy. Niyog Sangahan, Talipao, Sulu who was nabbed in a law enforcement operation conducted by joint elements of Sulu Provincial Police Office (SPPO), Philippine National Police (PNP) and Joint Task Force Sulu (JTFS), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Col. Gregorio added that the suspect was arrested based on the standing warrant of arrest in Criminal Case nr: CrC ‎113-2016 Kidnapping with Homicide issued by Judge Dax Gonzaga Xenos of 11th Judicial Regional Branch 34 of Panabo City in connection with the 2015 kidnapping of Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Filipina Marites Flor from a resort in Samal Island.

The four victims were brought to Sulu by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) where they were kept on hiding. Ridsdel and Hall were later beheaded separately while Flor and Sekkingstad were released September this year.

Col. Gregorio also said that the Brgy Chair was reportedly coddling ASG members by providing sanctuary, information network and food; and most often involved in managing and providing leadership especially in decision making inside the ASG. Abdulla was brought by arresting troops to Sulu PPO for proper documentation and processing.

Brig. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, commander of JTFS said, "The arrest of Abdulla is a major blow in the leadership of the ASG. The ASG's information network, command and decision making will be severely affected with the arrest of a major figure inside their leadership".

"The arrest of Abdulla is a product of intensified cooperation between the people of Sulu and our soldiers and policemen in protecting local communities from the scourge of terrorism. Our soldiers will continue to conduct combat operations to destroy the ASG and rescue the remaining hostages", Brig. Gen. Dela Vega added.

A week ago, President Duterte visited wounded troops in Sulu in two separate clashes that resulted to eight ASG members killed and eight government troops wounded.

The President visited wounded troops confined at Camp Bautista hospital in Sulu afternoon of Oct 31, a day after the bloody clashes.

Two ASG were killed in an early morning clash at 6:45AM of Oct 30 with members of the 11th Scout Ranger Company in Indanan, Sulu while government troops suffered no casualty. 

A few hours later at 12:44PM of same day, six ASG were killed in a separate clash between the ASG and the 21st Infantry Battalion in Patikul, Sulu. Several ASG were also wounded while government troops suffered eight wounded in action.

This brings to 44 the total number of ASG killed in Sulu since the intensified combat operations was launched in July while scores of ASG were reportedly wounded. The goverment suffered 15 killed in action in Sulu since July while 36 were wounded in action.

"The successive encounters were the result of the cooperation of local residents against the ASG for their brutal killings and un-Islamic activities", Brig. Gen. Dela Vega concluded.(PR/posted by Becky D. de Asis)