Abu Sayyaf leader – on vacation from Saudi – nabbed

Natashya Gutierrez

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Sali Basal Taib, 45, has been wanted for the 2001 kidnappings of workers at the Golden Harvest Plantation and of nurses in Doctor Torres Hospital, all in Basilan

CAPTURED. The police captured Sali Taib, a member of the Abu Sayyaf Group, after Taib evaded authorities for 12 years. Photo from PNP-PIO

MANILA, Philippines – He looked like any common citizen bringing his son to school.

But Sali Basal Taib, who was captured by the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday, July 25, was far from being an ordinary Filipino.

The 45-year-old, a member of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), has been wanted for his part in the 2001 kidnappings of workers at the Golden Harvest Plantation in Lantawan, Basilan, and the abduction of nurses from the Doctor Torres Hospital in Lamitan City, also in Basilan.

In a press briefing on Monday, July 29, the PNP announced it arrested Taib in Payatas, Quezon City. Taib, who has been in hiding since 2005, was tracked through an informant.

Taib, alias Gong-gong Sali or Abu Husni, was an ASG sub-leader within sub-groups. Police offered a P5.3-million reward for his capture. The amount was given to the informant.

Temporary stay

Taib had been living in Saudi Arabia since 2006. He successfully left the Philippines under the passport name Albasher Sali in December 2006.

In Riyadh, he worked as an electrician or lineman.

The informant told police Taib returned to the country in the third week of June. Police found him in the second week of July, at which point they started the build-up of the case against him.

According to PSSupt Bernard Diaz of the PNP Intelligence Group, Taib attended worship at the mosque daily during his vacation here.

Taib only planned to stay in the country temporarily to observe Ramadan, according to police. He planned to return to Saudi Arabia after the annual Islamic observance. – Rappler.com

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Natashya Gutierrez

Natashya is President of Rappler. Among the pioneers of Rappler, she is an award-winning multimedia journalist and was also former editor-in-chief of Vice News Asia-Pacific. Gutierrez was named one of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders for 2023.