NABBED. NCRPO chief, Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao presents to the media two alleged ASG members Taupik Galbun and Saik Galbun at the Southern Police District on Tuesday (July 13, 2021). The two suspects were arrested in an operation in Barangay Upper Bicutan, Taguig City on July 10. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said it is checking whether the two suspected Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members who were arrested in Taguig City last week have cohorts in Metro Manila.
"Sa panig ng PNP, wala tayong nakikitang banta ng terorismo dito sa Metro Manila. Patuloy ang imbestigasyon sa pagkakaaresto sa dalawang miyembro umano ng Abu Sayyaf sa Taguig. Inaalam pa ng mga imbestigador kung bakit narito sa NCR (National Capital Region) ang mga suspek (On the part of the PNP, we do not see any terror threat here in Metro Manila. The investigation on the two alleged Abu Sayyaf members arrested in Taguig is ongoing. Investigators are determining why the suspects are here in the NCR)," PNP chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said in a statement.
Eleazar also commended joint teams of the National Capital Region Police Office, the Southern Police District, the Taguig City Police, and the Joint Task Force National Capital Region for the arrest of suspects Taupik Galbun alias “Pa Wahid”, and Saik Galbun alias “Pa Tanda", in an operation in Sitio Imelda, Barangay Upper Bicutan, Taguig City last July 10.
Taupik has standing arrest warrants for six counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention. He is an alleged member of the terror group under the late Isnilon Hapilon and Radulan Sahiron.
He is allegedly involved in the beheading of three kidnap victims in Sulu and Basilan.
Saik, meanwhile, is wanted for kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges. The two suspects are allegedly involved in the August 2002 kidnapping of six Jehovah’s Witness members in Sulu and the abduction of three teachers in Zamboanga City in January 2009.
Eleazar also urged the public to immediately report to authorities if they see anything suspicious or if they have information on the presence of lawless individuals in their areas. (PNA)
