June 24, 2001, The Philippine Star, Sayyaf founder 'Boy Iran' arrested in Zamboanga,

June 24, 2001, The Philippine Star, Sayyaf founder 'Boy Iran' arrested in Zamboanga,

Combined elements of the military and the police captured in Zamboanga City a suspected leader of the Abu Sayyaf extremist group with a P1-million bounty on his head. 

President Arroyo hailed the arrest of Muloh Abdullah alias Boy Iran, alleged to be one of the founders of the Muslim group, as a "major breakthrough" in the military's all-out war against the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan. 

Abdullah was presented to journalists during a press briefing at the Armed Forces' Southern Command headquarters in Zamboanga City yesterday. 

Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan, who presided at the briefing, did not give details on Abdullah's arrest, which he attributed to the ongoing pursuit of the Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan. 

Adan admitted, however, that Abdullah's fall stemmed from information given by a civilian who will subsequently get the P1-million reward. 

"He (Abdullah) is the courier of the Abu Sayyaf," Adan said without elaborating. 

It would be the second time that a civilian informant would receive a bounty offered by the government for information leading to the arrest of an Abu Sayyaf member wanted by the law. 

The first recipient was the widow of retired Army Col. Fernando Bajet who shot dead Abu Sayyaf leader Abdullah Yusop during the siege of Lamitan town last June 2. 

Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said Abdullah had gone through tactical interrogation over the past three days at the Southcom headquarters. 

"We believe the arrest of Abdullah will allow us to finally dismantle the Abu Sayyaf's network in Basilan and other urban centers like Metro Manila," Tiglao said. 

Military authorities said Abdullah was among the first batch of Abu Sayyaf cadres recruited by its founder, Ustadz Abdurajak Janjalani, in the early 1990s. 

Among the group's initial terrorist acts was the 1992 bombing in Zamboanga City of the floating library M/V Doulos where 18 people, six of them foreigners, were killed. 

The military also said Abdullah supplied the information that led to the abduction of Catholic priests Fr. Gaz Frazack and Fr. Bernardo Blanco in 1993 in Basilan. 

The suspect was likewise implicated in the 1993 bombing of the Shoppers' Central in Zamboanga City. 

At yesterday's press briefing at Malacañang, Tiglao also revealed a letter from jailed Abu Sayyaf leader Hector Janjalani, elder brother of Khadaffi, offering help to resolve the hostage crisis in Basilan. 

The letter, handwritten in Tausug dialect, was dated June 20 and addressed to the President. 

"I can help you in this present situation. I am offering to help you solve this problem because I trust you. If there is one Janjalani that destroyed the peace in Mindanao, it's not impossible for another Janjalani to come out and offer himself as a tool to restore peace," the letter said. 

"Maybe, we can try to talk to them (Abu Sayyaf bandits) and secure the freedom of the hostages with no money involved," Hector added. 

Tiglao said Mrs. Arroyo asked Hector to issue more letters to his Abu Sayyaf comrades to release their hostages. 

In another development, Adan said the military has not confirmed the reported release of three hostages snatched by the Abu Sayyaf from Dos Palmas, an upscale resort in Palawan, last May 27. 

"There was no communication intercepted by the Armed Forces from the Abu Sayyaf that they are going to release hostages, although it is our desire and hope that all of the hostages are released," Adan said. 

He said there has been no indication that the some of the captives were on their way to freedom. 

Quoting an independent negotiator, Reuters reported that three of the hostages were freed by the Abu Sayyaf on Friday and were expected to reach safety within 48 hours. — Roel Pareño, Marichu Villanueva