December 9, 2002, The Philippine Star, Military nabs another Abu Sayyaf bandit, by Roel Pareño,

December 9, 2002, The Philippine Star, Military nabs another Abu Sayyaf bandit, by Roel Pareño,

A suspected Abu Sayyaf bandit involved in the abduction of over 50 students, teachers and a Catholic priest two years ago in two towns in Basilan was captured by soldiers while he was allegedly spying on a prospective kidnap victim. 

Military authorities identified the suspect as Putong Kamala alias Abu Nass, 21, a member of an Abu Sayyaf band headed by Isnilon Hapilon and Aldam Tilao, alias Abu Sabaya, who also acted as spokesman of the group. 

Witnesses who were among those snatched from two schools in Tuburan and Sumisip towns on March 20, 2000 tagged Kamala, a native of Lantawan town, Basilan as one of their tormentors. 

Claretian Fr. Rhoel Gallardo was tortured to death while two male teachers suspected as former soldiers were beheaded by the kidnappers. 

Some of the captives were freed after militiamen seized the family of Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khaddafi Janjalani. 

Lt. Col. Daniel Lucero, spokesman for the Armed Forces' Southern Command, said Kamala has existing warrants of arrest in connection with a string of criminal cases pending against him before the courts. 

Kamala was reportedly nabbed by intelligence agents of the Army's 18th Infantry Battalion in Lamitan. 

Lucero said the suspect has admitted that he was conducting surveillance on a prospective kidnap victim in Lamitan. 

The arrest of Kamala came three days after the capture of another suspected Abu Sayyaf bandit identified as Bayer Macrohon Abu Obaida alias Abu Bayer, 20, in a remote village in Lamitan. 

The military claimed that Obaida's group headed by Hamsiraji Sali, alias Jose Ramirez, was responsible for the beheading of American tourist Guillermo Sobero of California. 

Sobero was abducted on May 27 last year, along with American couple Martin and Gracia Burnham and 17 guests and workers of the posh Dos Palmas resort in Palawan.