Al-Qaeda-linked militant captured in the Southern Philippines

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 25, 2010) – A senior member of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group was captured by Filipino police forces in the southern island of Sulu, officials told the Mindanao Examiner on Thursday.

Regional police chief Bienvenido Latag said Mujibar Amon was arrested late Monday near his house in Ummul Quran village in Indanan town. He did not give details about the capture of the 26-year old militant, but said Amon’s arrest was the result of a long intelligence operation.

“This is another blow to the terrorist group and we will continue to pursue the terrorists no matter where,” Latag said.

Amon is one the country’s most wanted terrorists who was involved in last year’s kidnappings of three Red Cross workers and many more, including the cross-border raid in Malaysia’s Sipadan island report where 21 mostly European and Asian holidaymakers were abducted and brought to Sulu in 2000.

He was tagged as among those who also kidnapped US tourist Jeffrey Shilling in 2000 in Sulu, one of the five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.

Amon was also linked by Philippine authorities to the spate of bombings in Sulu, where Patek, Dulmatin, Mauiya and other Jemaah Islamiya terrorists are believed to be hiding.

Last week, authorities killed Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad and five of his men in a clash in Sulu’s Indanan town. (Mindanao Examiner)