Arestado ang dalawang tinaguriang notorious ASG sub-leader sa isinagawang joint operations ng AFP Western Mindanao Command at Eastern Sabah Southern Command (ESSCOM) Jalan Taman Sri Arjuna, Beaufort, Sabah, Malaysia.
Kinilala ni AFP Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, ang dalawang naarestong ASG sub-leaders na sina Sansibar Bensio, 40-45 years old, at Mabar Binda, 25-30 gulang.
Habang nahuli rin ang anim pang miyembro ng grupo na kinilalang sina Muayyar Binda, alyas Sansis, alyas Firdaus, Lugah Sanchez, Bonijar Samsula, at Alim Sukarno.
Napag-alaman na sangkot ang mga naaresto sa ilang engkwentro at pagdukot sa ilang foreign nationals kabilang ang Swiss, Dutch at Indonesians.
Naniniwala si Vinluan na malaking kawalan sa Abu Sayyaf ang pagkakaaresto sa kanilang mga kasamahan para makapagsagawa ng iligal na aktibidad.
Ayon naman kay JTF-Sulu commander Maj. Gen. William Gonzales, naaresto sina Sansibar Bensio at Mabar Binda, sa special police operation na resulta ng intensive intelligence build-up ng mga operatiba ng 4th Marine Brigade sa pamumuno ni Col Hernanie Songano.
“These ASG personalities have moved to Sabah around March this year. We have been closely monitoring the activities of this Eastern Sulu kidnap-for-ransom group as it is highly possible that they intend to make Sabah their staging point for their kidnapping activities. They know that it will be very difficult for them to launch atrocities in Sulu due to the persistent military operations in the area,” wika pa ni Songano.
Pinuri naman ni Gen Gonzales ang ginawa ng 4th Marine Brigade.
“I salute our Marines as they have again proven their determination to contribute to the JTF-Sulu’s mission to eliminate these terror groups, particularly in the 2nd District of Sulu.”
Dagdag pa ni Gonzales, “whether they seek refuge in nearby provinces or outside our area of operations, if they have caused atrocities or continue to spoil our peace initiatives here in Sulu – they will surely be made accountable and to face the rule of law.”
