[AFP] Philippine police have arrested an Abu Sayyaf rebel who allegedly helped guard a group of tourists kidnapped in 2001, including an American missionary who was later killed. Hood Abdullah is accused of guarding hostages including American citizen Martin Burnham, who was killed and his wife injured in the crossfire during a botched rescue attempt in June 2002. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said, "Burnham, an American hostage, was always handcuffed to Abdullah...especially on the move."
Burnham died 13 months after Abu Sayyaf gunmen kidnapped a group of 20 tourists at an upscale western Philippine resort, including the Burnhams and another U.S. citizen, who was later beheaded. While Abdullah did not take part in the resort raid, he guarded the Burnhams when several groups of hostages including the missionary couple were put together in one detention area, Aguirre said. The other hostages were plantation workers and Jehovah's Witnesses — two of whom were rescued and helped to identify Abdullah, the justice secretary added.
Abdullah was arrested on February 27 in Zamboanga City, where Aguirre said he was believed to be scouting for fresh victims while working as a motel security guard. On February 28, authorities arrested a second Abu Sayyaf rebel, Jimmy Bla, elsewhere in Zamboanga. Bla owns several powerful motorboats and is believed to have been providing “fast sea transport” to kidnappers.