By Hader Glang
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines
Philippine security forces have arrested another member of an al-Qaeda-linked group in Tawi-Tawi province, an Abu Sayyaf stronghold in the country's Muslim south.
Chief Supt. Noel Delos Reyes, police director in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said Wednesday that Mobin Hailil - alias Kahumbo - was arrested in Sanga-Sanga village in the provincial capital of Bongao at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Delos Reyes said Hailil was involved in kidnappings and killings in Mabbul Island, off Malaysia's east coast with the Philippines.
Combined security and intelligence forces recovered a .45 caliber Colt pistol loaded with six rounds of ammunition and a MK2 grenade from Hailil's possession.
Several Abu Sayyaf members have been captured by the police and military over the last few months, including high-ranking leader Khair Mundos, who was captured with three others in Paranaque City, near Philippines capital Manila, last June.
The Abu Sayyaf is believed to be holding several foreign hostages on southwestern Jolo island, including two European bird watchers kidnapped two years ago in Tawi-Tawi and two German nationals who went missing in southern Palawan province last April.
Last June, two suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen kidnapped a Chinese fish farm manager and a Filipino from Malaysia's Sabah. While the Filipino worker managed to escape, the farm manager is believed to have been taken to Jolo.
Since 1991, the Abu Sayyaf -- armed with mostly improvised explosive devices, mortars and automatic rifles -- has carried out bombings, kidnappings, assassinations and extortions in a self-determined fight for an independent Islamic province in the Philippines.
It is notorious for beheading victims after ransoms have failed to be paid for their release.
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