[SunStar] The police have arrested four Abu Sayyaf rebels, including a militiaman, involved in the hijacking of a Vietnamese bulk carrier last year off Basilan province. Basilan police director Nickson Muksan said the militant suspects were arrested Monday afternoon in the villae of Ulame, Lamitan City. Muksan said the suspects were identified as Taha Upao, Bryan Upao, Ibrahim Akhmad, and Ibno Akhmad, a member of the government militia force. He said an investigation showed the suspects were involved in the hijacking of a Vietnamese bulk carrier on November 11, 2016.
Aboard a speed boat, the Abu Sayyaf rebels seized six people during the hijacking as the vessel was passing near Sibago Island, Mohammad Ajul town. Three of the six have remained in captivity since the Abu Sayyaf beheaded two of the Vietnamese crew on July 5, while another escaped on June 16.