MANILA — A member of the dreaded Abu Sayyaf terror group involved in the beheading of a farmer and kidnapping of 50 school children in Basilan in 2001, but who was freed from detention due to some legal technicality, was rearrested on Thursday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.
A spot report received by PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome said Haron Jaljalis, alias Indal, a member of the Abu Sayyaf Group linked to the international al-Qaeda terror group with P350,000 reward for his capture, dead or alive, was arrested by combined military and police operatives in Sitio Malvar, Barangay Mahayahay, Maluso, Basilan by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by presiding Judge Danilo Bucoy of Branch 1, Regional Trial Court 9.
Police records show that Jaljalis, who was involved in the beheading of a farmer at Golden Harvest plantation in Tairan Village, Lantawan, Basilan in June 2001, was also tagged in the kidnapping of 50 elementary school children and teachers in Tumahubong, Basilan.
Jaljalis was arrested last year but was released by PNP Basilan on some legal technicality.
The ASG is currently headed by Isnilon Japilon.
The Abu Sayyaf is involved in nefarious activities such as bombings, kidnappings, assassinations and extortion but many of its leaders and members have been neutralized by government forces the past years.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PNP have sustained their all-out war on terror, particularly the ASG, greatly reducing their numbers. (PNA)
DCT/scs/RBC/mec
