By ARIS R. ILAGAN
Operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have arrested another top leader of the Abu Sayyaf — who carried a R1-million cash reward for his arrest — during a raid in his safehouse in Lamitan, Basilan.
Reports reaching Camp Crame in Quezon City identified the arrested Abu Sayyaf leader as Uto Hapidim, alias “Isnorodin Lagayansan.”
Police authorities said that Hapidim is a native of Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.
According to Chief Supt. Arturo Lomibao, PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director, Hapidin was placed under surveillance by elements of the PNPCIDG before he was arrested.
Lomibao said Hapidim was among those involved in the kidnapping of foreign and local tourists at the Dos Palmas Resort in Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa City last April 28, 2002.
The PNP-CIDG director said that Hapidim was placed under the custody of the PNP-CIDG in Zamboanga City to undergo tactical interrogation.
Meanwhile, two more inmates who bolted from the Basilan Rehabilitation Center were killed during an encounter with combined police and military elements.
Senior Supt. Bensali Jabarani, Basilan PNP provincial director, identified the two slain inmates as Mubin Isding Sarikin, a suspected Abu Sayyaf member; and Sattar Muktar, who was reportedly facing murder charges.
Jabarani said the two were killed at 6:30 p.m. last Monday night in Lantawan, Basilan when they engaged government authorities in a shootout.
A total of 22 remaining escapees are still subject of manhunt operations by police and military teams in Basilan.
Of the 53 inmates who escaped last Saturday, 11 were killed while 20 others were recaptured by pursuing lawmen.
