Abu Sayyaf member tagged in 2017 kidnapping nabbed in Zamboanga

The alleged terrorist also had allegedly changed his name.

Booking shots of alleged Abu Sayyaf member Salip Yusop Habibulla arrested in Zamboanga City, the Philippines, on March 31, 2023. (11ID pic) 

ZAMBOANGA CITY: A suspected Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) member allegedly involved in a 2017 kidnapping was arrested by Philippine government forces in Zamboanga on Friday.

The alleged terrorist was identified as Salip Yusop Habibulla, 30, a married resident of Pasil village in Indanan municipality, said the Army’s 11th Infantry Division (11ID) in a statement Saturday. 

Based on initial investigation, the suspect had allegedly changed his name from Salip Yusop Habibulla to Nurhan Alih Ismael and made a new identity document.

The suspect was a member of the Sulu-based ASG allegedly involved in the kidnapping of one Jelster Ed @ Jed Quimbo on September 6, 2017. 

"Operatives from the Naval Forces Western Mindanao, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Zamboanga City Field Unit, Zamboanga City Police Station 11 and Joint Task Force-Zamboanga, stepped up efforts in a joint law enforcement operation that led to the arrest of a member of the Sulu-Based Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) at Mangal Drive, Baliwasan village, Zamboanga City," said 11ID. 

During the arrest, one cellular phone was confiscated and subjected to forensic examination. 

The suspect was processed at law enforcement facilities of Zamboanga City.