'Abu Sayyaf operative' captured in RP

'Abu Sayyaf operative' captured in RP

PHILIPPINES: The Philippine military said on Friday it arrested a suspected Muslim militant in the southern Philippines on murder and kidnapping charges.

Sonny Boy Hamsain was nabbed by soldiers in Isabela city on Basilan island, the stronghold of the extremist Abu Sayyaf group, said Lt. Col. Fredesvindo Covarrubias, head of the military's civil relations group.

He said the suspect was in charge of collecting extortion money from traders in Basilan on behalf of Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani.

Hamsain carried a 300,000 peso (US$5,400) bounty on his head stemming from murder and kidnapping charges, Covarrubias said.

Hamsain denied the charges against him during interrogation following his arrest on Wednesday, according to a military statement.

Janjalani is one of five Abu Sayyaf leaders wanted by the United States for the kidnapping and killing of two Americans in 2001 and 2002. Washington has offered a reward of up to US$5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the leaders. -- AP