24/09/2021
PRESS STATEMENT
September 15, 2021
NBI ARRESTS AN ABU SAYYAF MEMBER
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) today announced the arrest of an Abu Sayyaf member by the operatives of NBI- Counter Terrorism Division (NBI-CTD) in an operation in Culiat, Quezon City for Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention.
NBI Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Director Eric B. Distor identified the arrested subject as ALBAZIR ABDULLA y HAMSI a.k.a ABU SAIF.
Based on the information received by the NBI-CTD, a certain ABU SAIF, who was involved in the 2001 Golden Harvest Plantation Kidnapping was sighted in NCR. A victim-witness identified ABU SAIF in a CTD photo line-up as one of the abductors and a member of the ASG. A series of casing and surveillance operations was conducted by the NBI-CTD in coordination with counterparts from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), to gather more information which revealed the actual residence of ABU SAIF.
Thus, on September 10, 2021, NBI-CTD proceeded to the target area in Salam Compound, Brgy. Culiat, Quezon City and apprehended Abu Saif who was later identified as Subject Abdulla. The arrested ASG member was then brought to NBI Detention Facility.
Director Distor added that due to continued monitoring, the NBI-CTD was able to track down and apprehend a number of ASG members who blended in the society. He stressed that Subject ABU SAIF is the 2nd member of the terrorist group, ASG, to be arrested this year. On May 7, 2021, Wahab S. Jamal a.k.a. Ustadz Halipa was arrested at Maharlika Village in Taguig. & Albazir H. Abdulla Saif, Arrested 10 sept at Salam compound,
Distor emphasized that back in 2001, the terrorist group, Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) headed by their late leader Isnilon Hapilon and other senior ASG leaders raided the Golden Harvest Plantation in Brgy. Tairan, Lantawan, Basilan Province. The terrorist group seized the supplies from sari-sari stores and houses; livestock, fi****ms and ammunition from the plantation security. The ASG burned the chapel and detained 14 plantation workers, two (2) of whom were beheaded by the terrorist group. After four (4) months of captivity, the victims were able to escape on separate ocassions from their captors during the rescue operations by the government security forces. After the incident, the ASG stayed in the mountains and some of its members assimilated back to society as "sleepers" or "spies".