Philippine Militant Blamed For Beheadings Captured

Published February 21, 2012 2:09AM (EST)

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine officials say police have captured an Abu Sayyaf militant who has been implicated in dozens of atrocities, including the beheadings of marines and deadly attacks.

Paquito Ochoa Jr., who heads the Philippine Anti-terrorism Council, says police forces captured Abdulpattah Ismael early Tuesday in his hideout in Isabela city on southern Basilan island. Police served more than a dozen warrants of arrest to Ismael, who uses the rebel name Patah Hamjak.

Ochoa says Ismael's alleged crimes included involvement in the 2007 beheadings of 10 marines in Basilan's Al-Barka township and a 2009 attack that allowed 31 mostly Muslim insurgents to escape from the provincial jail.

The Abu Sayyaf is on a U.S. list of terrorist organizations.


By Salon Staff

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