Abu Sayyaf terrorist tagged in 2001 siege, wanted for kidnappings, nabbed
Extremist had been hiding for a decade.
ZAMBOANGA CITY: An alleged Abu Sayyaf terrorist tagged in an infamous 2001 siege and wanted for kidnapping activities was reportedly arrested in the southern Philippine province of Basilan on Monday (Sept. 23).
Mobin Kullin, who had been hiding for a decade, was in the government’s list of most wanted persons based on a joint order of the Department of National Defense and Department of the Interior and Local Government, reports said.
A bounty for P600,000 was offered for Kullin, according to Brig. Gen. Bowenn Joey Masauding, the Zamboanga peninsula police chief.
A joint-police and military team arrested Kullin in Tabiawan village, Isabela City.
Kullin was reported to be a follower of Abu Sayyaf leaders Khadaffy Janjalani, Isnilon Hapilon and Ustadz Kalah, who were killed in military operations.
Kullin was arrested based on arrest warrants issued by two branches of the Regional Trial Court in Isabela City in Basilan in kidnapping and serious illegal detention cases.
Kullin was allegedly involved in multiple kidnappings, including the Golden Harvest Plantation raid in Tairan village, Lantawan, on June 11, 2001, aside from the 2001 siege in Lamitan.
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The Abu Sayyaf bandits seized 15 workers during the raid at the Golden Harvest Plantation and executed five of them.
The rest of the hostages escaped or were rescued during military operations.
In the Lamitan siege, Abu Sayyaf gunmen took over a church and a hospital and held priests, medical staff and patients hostage.
Government forces later surrounded the extremists, preventing their escape, however, the group managed to break out of the cordon by using their hostages as human shields.
In 2004, 17 Abu Sayyaf members were sentenced to death for their part in the Lamitan siege.
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