[PNA] Police and military forces have arrested a suspected Abu Sayyaf Group rebel, involved in the abduction of plantation workers in Basilan in 2001. Chief Inspector Elmer Solon identified the arrested suspect as Hamad Ajijul Susulan alias “Hajer Sailani” and “Ahmad.”Solon said Susulan was arrested Friday afternoon along the highway in Barangay Mercedes in Zamboanga City in a combined security operation. He said the suspect has a standing arrest warrant for eight counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom issued by the regional trial court in Basilan province.
Susulan is reportedly involved in the kidnapping of farm workers of the Golden Harvest Plantation at Barangay Tairan, Lantawan in Basilan on June 11, 2001. The Abu Sayyaf militants seized eight plantation workers during their attack and demanded ransom for their release.
The rebels beheaded some of the workers while others were either rescued by government forces or managed to escape during the firefight.