March 4, 2002, The Philippine Star, Southcom confirms capture of Sabaya's right-hand man,

March 4, 2002, The Philippine Star, Southcom confirms capture of Sabaya's right-hand man,

The Armed Forces Southern Command (Southcom) confirmed the capture of the right-hand man of Abu Sayyaf spokesperson Abu Sabaya in Lamitan, Basilan early this morning. Southcom spokesperson Capt Noel Detoyato told dzMM radio that arrested Abu Sayyaf member Sonny Teng was part of the"inner group" of Sabaya.

Residents of Barangay Matibay, Lamitan reported Teng's presence in their area to the military and elements of the Army's 18th Infantry Battalion immediately went to nab him at around 0100 [local time], said Detoyato.

Teng, who is still being detained in a military detachment in Lamitan, did not offer resistance to the arrest, he added.

According to the Southcom official, members of the notorious Abu Sayyaf decided to lay low and have gone down from the mountains of Basilan apparently to avoid arrest amid the ongoing RP [Republic of the Philippines]-US joint military exercises.