ZAMBOANGA CITY – Government troops have arrested two members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Basilan province, a top military official disclosed Wednesday.
Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), identified the arrested ASG members as Ibrahim Enteng alias Andjan Badjo, and Muads Abirin Akmad.
Rosario said the two were arrested by troopers of the Army’s 18th Infantry Battalion and 4th Special Forces Battalion on Sunday at the public market of Lamitan City in Basilan.
“In coordination with our partners and stakeholders, we are expediting the arrest of terrorists who seek refuge in peaceful communities. We implement security measures to prevent them from creating havoc and disrupting peace in our area of operation,” Rosario said.
He said the troops seized from them two .45 caliber pistols with several rounds of ammunition, two mobile phones, and a fragmentation grenade.
He said the duo are followers of the late Basilan-based senior ASG leader Furuji Indama.
He said Enteng and Akmad are now under the custody of the Lamitan City Police Station for proper disposition.
Since January this year, the Westmincom has apprehended a total of six ASG members in Western Mindanao.
Of the six, three were captured in Sulu, two in Basilan, and one in Zamboanga City. (PNA)
