ISABELA CITY, Basilan (Mindanews/14 March) – Police arrested in a raid an Abu Sayyaf bandit who was involved in the 2001 siege of Lamitan City, this province, a top police official disclosed.
Senior Supt. Alex Linesis, Basilan police director, said Nawaf Jainuddin was arrested in a raid around 2 a.m. Sunday in Barangay Matatag, Lamitan, in the house of Hajarun Jamiri.
Jamiri, a former mayor of Tuburan town, Basilan was implicated in the November 13, 2007 bombing at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City.
Linesis said Jainuddin has a warrant of arrest for his alleged participation in the June 2001 Lamitan siege by the Abu Sayyaf bandits.
The police official said the raid was based on a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 14 Judge Reynerio Estacio of the 9th Judicial Region in Zamboanga City.
Jamiri was not around during the raid witnessed by Matatag Barangay Chair Jan Mukseem and Councilman Gabriel Julian, Linesis said.
He added the raiding policemen seized two homemade shotguns, one hand grenade, a pair of camouflage uniforms, and a cellular phone.
The Batasan bombing resulted in the death of four people including Basilan Congressman Wahab Akbar and injured 12 others.
Former Basilan congressman Gerry Salapuddin was also implicated in the incident.
A Pasig Regional Trial Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of Salapuddin. (MindaNews)