Abu Sayyaf leader fakes collapse in police custody to avoid transfer

While his family members were crying, an alleged leader of the notorious terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group who was arrested Wednesday afternoon in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat faked a collapse as members of the Regional Intelligence Unit 11 of the Philippine National Police-Intelligence Group were about to take him aboard a van that was supposed to take him to the Davao International Airport Friday morning.
But Basal Taib, alias kumander Gonggong Sali or Jalil Adjal, was forced to board the vehicle where soon enough dropped all pretense of illness.
He was escorted by RIU 11 chief Supt. Leonardo Felonia, deputy chief for intelligence Insp. Crisente Evangelio and SPO4 Pio Saavedra in his transfer from the RIU 11 detention center at Candelaria, Ecoland, this city to Zamboanga City and from there Isabela, Basilan.
Taib’s detention at RIU 11 was kept secret until Friday because he was considered a high-profile personality with a P3.3 million reward for his arrest.
Task Force Sanglahi, a special group created by PNP chief Gen. Nicanor Bartolome through a directive from President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, composed of RIU 11, PNP Special Action Force, and Philippine Air Force and in coordination with the Palimbang municipal police Station mounted an operation at 12:05 p.m. on Wednesday that resulted to Taib’s arrest in front of Wal Primary School, Barangay Wal, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat.
The arrest was by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Leo Jay Principe of the Regional Trial Court Branches 1  and 8 in Isabela, Basilan for kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
The case stemmed from an incident that happened sometime in 2001 when Taib reportedly led the Abu Sayyaf group to kidnap and detain employees of Golden Harvest Plantation in Lantawan, Basilan.
Sources said the victims were later beheaded, but authorities have yet to confirm this. Other reports showed that Taib also participated in a series of bombing incidents in Mindanao and the National Capital Region.
Taib reportedly disguised himself as a volunteer teacher and an encyclopedia sales representative that set him up to be at the school premises when he was arrested. [ASA]