Abu Sayyaf terrorist caught at Manila airport about to leave for Malaysia
The militant is wanted for the gruesome beheading of two Marines in 2011, among other charges.
MANILA: Philippine authorities said they caught a highly wanted alleged Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) member at the Manila airport who was about to catch a flight to Malaysia on Aug. 10, 2023.
The National Bureau of Investigation – International Airport Investigation Division (NBI-IAID), in a statement Tuesday (Aug. 29), said they arrested Mohammad Maca-Antal Said also known as Amah Maas at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 3 via an arrest warrant for kidnapping and homicide.
Earlier, Philippine Bureau of Immigration personnel intercepted Said who was bound for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, upon finding there was an Interpol Red Notice against him.
Said was later turned-over to the NBI-IAID, who discovered that the suspect had an existing warrant of arrest, and immediately placed him under arrest.
Further investigation conducted by the NBI-IAID revealed that Said was one of the individuals charged with the gruesome beheading of two Marines in Patikul, Sulu province, during an encounter between the Marine Battalion Landing Team 11 of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the ASG on July 28, 2011.
Seven Marines were killed and 26 others were wounded during the encounter.
The NBI-IAID also discovered that Said had been charged with 25 counts of frustrated murder, three murder cases, kidnapping with murder, kidnap/serious illegal detention and two counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention.
The NBI-IAID said they are currently gathering other standing warrants of arrest for implementation against the suspected terrorist.