Two al-Qaida-linked Muslim militants, including one wanted for the 2001 kidnapping of three Americans and 17 other people from a resort island, were captured in separate raids in the southern Philippines, officials said Friday.
Troops arrested suspected Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Tuwatin Anahalul in Zamboanga del Sur province's Margusatubig town Thursday, said Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga.
Anahalul, also called Abu Basilan, has a $48,700 bounty on his head.
"He was involved in the Lamitan siege and Dos Palmas kidnapping," Allaga said.
Allaga was referring to the 2001 kidnapping at the Dos Palmas resort in western Palawan province. The Abu Sayyaf kidnappers brought their hostages by boat from Palawan to southern Basilan island, where they raided a hospital in Lamitan town. The militants, with hostages in tow, escaped four days later from the hospital after battling government troops.
Anahalul later guided troops as they arrested another Abu Sayyaf figure in Margusatubig. Officials have declined to name the second suspect because operations related to the case are continuing.
Last month, 14 Abu Sayyaf militants were sentenced to life in prison for the kidnapping of U.S. missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham, as well as Guillermo Sobero of Corona, California, and 17 others from the resort.
It remains to be seen whether they will indeed serve life in prison or find themselves released short of the full sentence as has been the case elsewhere in the world, including Indonesia and in the Middle East. We've also seen fatal consequences from the release of individuals held at GitMo - they return to jihad and are found fighting time and time again.
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