Arrested were Wakil Sampang and Abug Sampang, both natives of Isabela City. They were arrested inside the Village Zamboanga Restaurant.

Their arrest were carried out on the strength of a warrant for kidnapping and serious illegal detention with case number 3674-1187.

The warrant of arrest was issued by Judge Danilo Bucoy of the 9th Judicial Region of the Regional Trial Court Branch 2, Isabela City.

It was gathered that the two Abu Sayyaf suspects were spotted by an informant of the Philippine Air Force intelligence unit inside the restaurant.

The PAF operatives first requested for back-up forces from the Zamboanga City Mobile Group before they raided the restaurant.

The PAF operatives presented the warrant on the suspects before they were handcuffed and whisked to the PAF intelligence unit headquarters at the Edwin Andrews Air Base for tactical interrogation.

A source said the two arrested bandits and other cohorts were deployed here before Christmas Day to stage terror attacks but were unsuccessful because of the ultra tight security in the city.

According to the source, the Sampangs and some of their cohorts were left in the city to further observe the security measures here.

Police and military intelligence units were still gathering information to determine if there are still Abu Sayyaf terrorists in the city.