[Gulf Today] An Abu Sayyaf leader with a $100,000 bounty on his head was arrested for his alleged involvement in the plan to launch terrorist attacks to disrupt an ongoing religious festival in Zamboanga City. Regional police chief Billy Beltran identified the suspect as Abdul-latip Suwaling Talanghari, also known as "Tatang," a title of respect meaning "father" among Filipinos.Beltran said security forces arrested Talanghari along with another suspect, Albasitrie Talanghari, during a raid on their safehouse in a village in Zamboanga City late on Friday night. Confiscated from the suspects were several firearms and improvised bombs which authorities believe were to be used to sow terror during the month-long celebration in October of a Catholic religious festival in the city, according to Beltran.
The attacks were to be co-ordinated with three other Abu Sayyaf militants earlier arrested by the police in the city five days ago, according to Beltran. He disclosed that Talanghari has long been wanted for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of 19 foreigners and two Filipinos from a resort in the Malaysian state of Sabah in 2000 and then brought them to Sulu.
On Friday, three members of another notorious cell known as the Maute Group, who were linked to the September 2 bombing of a popular night market in Davao City, hometown of President Duterte, were arrested. Police said the Maute Group launched the attack to divert attention on the government’s intensified search and destroy operation against the Abu Sayyaf.