COMBINED agents of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Air Force on Valentine’s Day captured a sub-leader of the extremist Abu Sayyaf Group who carries a P3.3-million bounty on his head, PNP-CIDG chief Director Samuel D. Pagdilao Jr. announced yesterday.

Pagdilao said Abdulhan Ussih, alias Jeron Jihiri/Black Tungkang, was arrested in an operation at the Magay Public Market in Zamboanga City past 6 p.m. Tuesday.

A warrant for the arrest of the suspect for six counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom with no bail recommended was issued by Judge Toribio Ilao Jr. of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 226.

CIDG Region 9 chief Senior Supt. Generoso Bonifacio said Ussih, of Vajada Meramar, Bgy. Sinunoc, Zamboanga City, is believed to be working with the Abu Sayyaf band headed by Radullan Sahiron alias Commander Putol in Sulu.

The suspect is believed to have served as a ‘liaison’ of the Abu Sayyaf Group to local residents who provided the extremists with food and other supplies.

CIDG and Air Force agents headed by Lt. Col. Arnel Villareal, backed by members of the Zamboanga City Police Office, surrounded the Magay public market following a confirmed report that Ussih was sighted inside the market area Tuesday afternoon.

The suspect did not resist when arrested.

Pagdilao said that Ussih is the third ASG terrorist who fell into the hands of the joint PNP-CIDG-Armed Forces operating units in Mindanao this year.

The others are Harun Jaljalis alias Abu Indal, who was arrested in Basilan last Jan. 26, and Sonny Bakim Barahim, alias Abu Ismael, of Isabela City, Basilan, who was captured last Jan. 17.

A cash reward of P3.3 million has been offered by the Department of National Defense-Department of the Interior and Local Government for any information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect.

Pagdilao said their continuing aggressive campaign against most wanted persons is the CIDG’s response to the directive of PNP chief Director General Nicanor A Bartolome for the PNP to account for notorious wanted persons and bring them to the bar of justice.

From Feb. 1 to the present, the CIDG has accounted for a total of 87 wanted persons, 16 of them wanted for heinous crimes.

Pagdilao credited the speedy arrests of many of the wanted persons by the CIDG to the creation of the Community Investigative Support or CIS.