Abu Sayyaf key suspect and three foreigners detained in Manila suspected for kidnapping

A key suspect in the 2015 kidnapping of a Filipina and three foreigners were arrested in San Miguel, Manila on Thursday, authorities said.

Joint operations by police-military intelligence led to the arrest of Jehan Aklul and Mohammad Amara Muslimin in a 5th floor rented unit along Carlos Palanca Street in Barangay 684 San Miguel, at about 1:50 a.m. in Manila, police said.

Aklul is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by a court in Panabo City, Davao del Norte for the crime of kidnapping with homicide.

Muslimin, however, was arrested for possession of two hand grenades, a detonating cord, and a blasting cap.

It is not clear if the two are suspected Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members, but police said Aklul was involved in the ASG-sanctioned kidnapping of two Canadians, John Risdel and Robert Hall; Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad; and a certain Tess, a Filipina, in Samal Island on Sept. 21, 2015.

They were transferred to Sulu during negotiations.

Risden and Hall were beheaded while Sekkingstad and Tess were released in 2016.

Source: Manila Times