DAVAO CITY – Two persons suspected to be members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were arrested by personnel of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and the Police Regional Intelligence Unit in a joint special operation here on Wednesday evening.
Colonel Alexander Tagum, DCPO director, identified the two suspected ASG members as Haider Arasani Anjawang, 31, a resident of Patikol Sulu; and Al Fasal Abubakar Hassan, 40, a resident of Zamboanga City.
Tagum said Anjawang and Hassan, who are both wanted for various crimes, were arrested in Purok 4, Barangay Ilang.
Police said Anjawang has a standing warrant of arrest for frustrated murder and illegal possession of explosives issued by Judge Ambrosio de Luna, Presiding Judge of Regional Trial Court of Palawan Branch 51, Puerto Princesa City.
Police operatives recovered from Anjawang’s possession a .45 caliber pistol, ammunition, and a fragmentation grenade.
Tagum said Hassan was arrested for possession of a fragmentation grenade.
Brig. Gen. Marcelo Morales, chief of Police Regional Office-11 (PRO-11), said Thursday that the arrest of the duo came after intelligence operatives received information on their presence in neighboring Panabo City.
Morales said the two went into hiding after warrants for their arrest were issued, staying for two days in Panabo City and arrived in Davao City on the day they were arrested.
According to Morales, Anjawang was confirmed as an Abu Sayyaf member who was last seen on a CCTV footage in Patikul, Sulu. Anjawang denied this, saying he is a mere construction worker.
Hassan also denied he is a member of the ASG but admitted he has a frustrated murder case. -PNA
