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Abu Sayyaf Key Man Captured in Southern Philippines
The Philippine government announced Saturday that security forces have captured a key member of the notorious Abu Sayyaf group that is still holding two dozens of hostages in the southern province of Basilan.
Abdullah Yussuf, an urban intelligence officer of the Abu Sayyaf, was arrested in the southern city of Zamboanga three days ago by a joint military and police task force, presidential spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao told a press briefing here.
Tiglao said that Yussuf is among the Abu Sayyaf leaders whose capture, dead or alive, would entitle those pinpointing their whereabouts to a share in a bounty of 2 million U.S. dollars offered by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Armed Forces spokesman Edilberto Adan reportedly said in Zamboanga that the arrest of Yussuf, who used to operate in Zamboanga-Basilan areas before he was captured, "is a manifestation that the concept of reward system initiated by the president works, thus, the end is near for these Abu Sayyaf terrorists."
The announcement of Yussuf's capture came after the headless bodies of two of the hostages held by Abu Sayyaf bandits were found before dawn Saturday near Isabela, capital of Basilan.
The two victims were among the 15 workers seized by Abu Sayyaf bandits on June 11 from the Golden Harvest coconut plantation in Lantawan town, Basilan.
Early this month, the Abu Sayyaf bandits beheaded two Filipinos of the original 20 hostages, including three Americans, abducted from the Dos Palmas resort in the western province of Palawan on May 27.
Eleven of the resort hostages have escaped or been rescued by the military, or released allegedly after ransom was paid by their families.
The bandits claimed on June 12 that they had executed U.S. hostage Guillermo Sobero, but till now it still can not be confirmed.
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