Philippine security forces arrested on Wednesday a sub-commander of the notorious Abu Sayyaf group in Basilan province, a military official said. In a statement, Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Miguel Ernesto Okol said Said Usman alias Kaiser was nabbed about 5 a.m. inside his home in Bulanbulan village in Lantawan town. Basilan is a known bailiwick of the al-Qaeda-linked bandit group.
At the time of his arrest, Usman carried a P1.2-million reward for his capture.
Okol said Usman was arrested by virtue of an warrant of arrest issued by the Isabela Regional Trial Court for kidnapping and illegal detention charges.
In a phone interview with Manila-based reporters, Lt. Col. Fernando Gomez, commander of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 1, said the arrest of Usman came following weeks of case build-up conducted by military units.
Gomez said Usman’s father, mother, second wife, and five children — including a four-month-old baby — were inside the suspected bandit leader's residence when arrested.
The Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for various kidnap-for-ransom and bombing activities in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, as well as in Metro Manila. Last Saturday, the bandit group beheaded three loggers they earlier abducted at the hinterlands of Maluso town, also in Basilan.
Security officials believe the latest killings were a retaliation for the ongoing military and police operations that have killed a number of Abu Sayyaf members. — Andreo Calonzo/KBK/RS
