Zamboanga City (19 October) -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines through Marine Battalion Landing Team 2 (MBLT2) successfully arrested one of the mid-level leaders of the Abu Sayyaf Group who has P3.3 million reward on his head identified as Abdulkahil Mallah aka Ibni Acosta in the Province of Tawi-Tawi.

The arrested ASG sub-leader has standing warrants of arrest for the spate of kidnappings, murder, and illegal detention.

Lt Colonel Gamal S Hayudini PAF, Group Commander, 4th Civil Relations Group, Civil Relations Service, Armed Forces of the Philippines revealed that the arrest took place when the terrorist was about to board a vessel at the port of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi purposely to evacuate himself for medical treatment as he was suffering from a gun shot wound on his neck.

Mallah was captured by the elements of the military that has been intensely monitoring the movements of the different threat groups operating in their area of responsibility. Hayudini added.

On the other hand, the military scored another victory for the arrest of a member of kidnap for ransom group in Brgy Rio Hondo, this city.

Hayudini disclosed that the suspect is barangay Tanod of Brgy Mariki identified as Alih Mandangan who is involved in the Tumahubong kidnapping incident. Alih was arrested on the power of warrant of arrest for kidnapping with serious illegal detention.

The AFP together with the PNP and other government authorities assures the public that they are always ready to protect the people and the country for any threat groups that continuously spreads terror.