A member of the Abu Sayyaf who is a suspect in the 2001 abduction of of plantation workers in Basilan and Kidapawan bus terminal bombing in 2012 was arrested in Ermita, Manila last Sunday, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Oscar Albayalde.

In a press briefing Tuesday, Albayalde said Abdurahman Mataud Daiyung alias Biznar Salabudin and Abu Talha, 43, was arrested in a police-military operation last February 10 after the order of Presiding Judge Leo Jay Principe of Regional Trial Court Branch 1 of Isabela City, Basilan.

A warrant of arrest was served to Daiyung by operatives of the Regional Special Operations Unit (RSOU)-National Capital Region Police Office, Regional Intelligence Division (RID)-NCRPO, PNP-Intelligence Group, Naval Intelligence and Security Group-NCR of the Naval Intelligence and Security Force and Naval Special Operations Group.

“In a related development in our continuing efforts against terrorism, I am pleased to announce the capture of another Abu Sayyaf terrorist who is a suspect in the infamous Kidapawan bus terminal bombing in October 10, 2012 the left seven persons dead and two dozen wounded,” he said.

He said Daiyung is accused in seven separate criminal cases for kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with his participation in the 2001 kidnapping of 15 employees of Golden

Harvest Plantation in Barangay Tairan, Lantawan, Basilan by the Abu Sayyaf led by the late Isnilon Hapilon.

“The court will be duly informed of the arrest in the procedural return of warrant process as soon as documentation and debriefing is completed,” said Albayalde.

NCRPO Director Guillermo Eleazar said Daiyung has been staying in Manila for a few months as a construction worker and maintenance personnel of a mosque

“Actually he was hiding... he has been here for just few months and we have monitored that he went to his comrades,” he said.

Eleazar said they are trying to find out why Daiyung went to Metro Manila.

He said no contraband was found during the arrest and they are verifying if he is still an active Abu Sayyaf member or not.

“There is an ongoing follow up so we cannot reveal (information) as of this moment…

Continuing efforts to account his other comrades, not only those who are involved in that case but also those who conduct atrocities,” said Eleazar.

He assured the public they have not monitored any threats from the Abu Sayyaf despite of the arrest of terrorists in Manila. Ella Dionisio/DMS