One of those arrested allegedly guarded hostages in 2001 Dos Palmas kidnapping
Apart from Hood Abdullah, arrested was Jimmy Bla, another Abu Sayyaf suspect, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said.
Abdullah is accused of guarding hostages including US citizen Martin Burnham, who was killed and his wife wounded in the crossfire during a botched military rescue attempt in June 2002.
“Burnham, an American hostage, was always handcuffed to Abdullah… especially on the move,” Aguirre told reporters.
Burnham died 13 months after Abu Sayyaf gunmen kidnapped a group of 20 tourists at the upscale western Philippine resort, including the Burnhams and another American, who was later beheaded.
The gunmen took their victims to their southern island stronghold of Basilan, authorities said.
While Abdullah did not take part in the resort raid, he guarded the Burnhams when several groups of hostages including the missionary couple were put together in one detention area, Aguirre said.
The other hostages were plantation workers and members of the Jehovah’s Witness — two of whom were rescued and helped to identify Abdullah, the justice secretary added.
Abdullah was arrested on February 27 in the southern port city of Zamboanga, where Aguirre said he was believed to be scouting for fresh victims while working as a motel security guard.
Bla owns several powerful motorboats and is believed to have been providing “fast sea transport” to kidnappers, the justice department added.
The two suspects have denied involvement in terrorist activities. Agence France Presse
