Authorities have apprehended a former member of the extremist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who had been wanted for kidnapping and had evaded capture for 15 years. The arrest took place in Zamboanga City on Monday.
In a statement on Tuesday, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III identified the suspect as Abu Raba, 52. He was arrested by CIDG Basulta (Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi) operatives in Barangay Dita, Zamboanga City.
Raba had a standing arrest warrant for kidnapping and serious illegal detention, issued by a court in Isabela City, Basilan, in July 2009. He was a member of the command led by the late ASG leader Isnilon Hapilon, who once headed the terrorist group’s operations in Basilan.
Authorities allege that Raba was involved in the Golden Harvest kidnapping incident in Tairan, Lantawan, Basilan, in 2001. He was also implicated in extortion, armed confrontations, killings, and ambush attacks against military forces in Basilan.
After the court issued his arrest warrant, Raba went into hiding, frequently changing residences and moving between Basilan, other islands in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, and the Zamboanga Peninsula to evade capture.
Maj. Gen. Torre commended the CIDG Basulta operatives, particularly the Sulu Provincial Field Unit, for their relentless efforts in capturing Raba.
“I commend the CIDG BASULTA Provincial Field Units, particularly the Sulu Provincial Field Unit, for their persistence and unyielding effort in pursuing and capturing this fugitive who had been on the run for almost 16 years. With this arrest, we have taken a step towards delivering justice to his victims,” Torre said.