Pangasinan Today

A suspected member of the Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf bandit group was arrested by the Philippine Marines at a checkpoint in Isabela City, Basilan, over the weekend.

Rear Admiral Emilio Marayag, chief of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao-Combined Command, confirmed the arrest of the Abu Sayyaf member. He, however, declined to provide details of the arrest and the bandit’s identity.

A military source, meanwhile, said the arrested bandit is a certain “Bapa-kie.”

Marayag said the Abu Sayyaf member was part of a group that attacked a Marine detachment in Ungkaya Pukan town on May 25.

The suspected bandit was being interrogated by the Marines at a base in the province.