MANHUNT OPS. Police operatives arrest a Dawlah Islamiya extremist identified as Nordy Alip (center, with baseball cap) during a manhunt operation in Sirawai, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte on Wednesday (May 3, 2023). The Area Police Command – Western Mindanao said Alip is the third most wanted person in Zamboanga Peninsula. (Photo courtesy of APC-WM)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Authorities have arrested a Dawlah Islamiya (DI) extremist in a manhunt operation in Zamboanga del Norte, while an Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) spy surrendered here, police and military reports said Thursday.
In a statement, the Area Police Command - Western Mindanao (APC-WM) identified the arrested suspect as Nordy Alip, who is listed as the third most wanted person in Zamboanga Peninsula.
Alip was arrested in Barangay San Vicente, Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte at about 7:15 a.m. on Wednesday.
Alip, a resident of Barangay Matiag, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte, has a standing warrant of arrest for illegal possession of explosives issued by a court in Siocon on Dec. 28, 2021.
Meanwhile, the APC-WM said an ASG spy, identified as Benjamin Husin Alias Sabar, surrendered Wednesday at the Naval Station Romulo Espaldon, which houses the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) headquarters here.
Rear Adm. Donn Anthony Miraflor, NFWM commander, said Thursday that Husin surrendered through the coordinated efforts of NFWM and Joint Task Force (JTF) - Zamboanga operatives.
Husin joined the ASG as one of the followers of the late Sulu-based bandit leader Alhabsy Misaya in 2010, and served as a spy based in this city since 2017 after he was wounded in a clash with government troops in Sulu, Miraflor said.
Misaya was killed in a clash with Philippine Marine troops in the forest between the towns of Indanan and Parang in Sulu on April 28, 2017.
Husin was allegedly involved in the kidnapping of three foreigners in the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte on Sept. 21, 2015.
Miraflor said Husin decided to surrender to live a normal life in the hope of reuniting with his family. He turned in a Garand rifle with 15 rounds of ammunition. (PNA)
