Asia-Pacific News
Suspected Muslim militant arrested in southern Philippines
Mar 18, 2010, 9:08 GMT
Manila - Philippine troops arrested a suspected Muslim militant for alleged involvement in the 2002 kidnappings of Christian evangelists, the military said Thursday.
The suspect, Burrong Rasul Barro, alias Abu Mohammad, was nabbed Wednesday as he disembarked from a ferry at the pier in Zamboanga City, 875 kilometres south of Manila.
Lieutenant Colonel Gerardo Zamudio, an air force spokesman, said air force intelligence operatives conducted surveillance on Barro for three months prior to his arrest.
Zamudio said the suspect was believed to be among members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group who abducted six members of the Jehovah's Witnesses Christian denomination in August 2002 on Jolo island, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila.
Two male evangelists were beheaded two days after the abduction while four female hostages were later rescued or escaped.
Zamudio said Barro carried a reward of 350,000 pesos (7,700 dollars) for his arrest.
The Abu Sayyaf has been involved in high-profile kidnappings for ransom involving foreign hostages. It has also been blamed for some of the worst terrorist attacks in the Philippines.
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