By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The nephew of slain Abu Sayyaf leader Aldam Tilao, or more known as ‘Abu Sabaya,’ was arrested along with his relative by members of the Negros Occidental Police Public Safety Company (NOPPSC) in Barangay E. Lopez, Silay City, Negros Occidental last Monday.
Police identified the two suspects as 28-year-old Absner Kudarat, of Jolo, Sulu; and Saldy Habibullah, 24, a native of Isabela, Basilan.
Police Regional Office-18 (PRO-18) spokesperson, Police Senior Insp. Armilyn Vargas, said on Monday evening the Silay City Police Station received a call complaining about the two who allegedly pointed a .45 caliber pistol at a local resident.
Vargas said members of the NOPPSC were sent to the area, and both suspects were apprehended by police.
However, as they were interrogating the suspects, Vargas said Kudarat admitted to investigators he was the nephew of Abu Sabaya, a leader and spokesperson of the Abu Sayyaf terror group.
Sabaya was responsible for several strings of kidnappings in Mindanao and had a P5,000,000 bounty on his head.
He was later tracked down and killed during a joint operation by Philippine Navy Special Forces and the US military off the coast of Zamboanga Del Norte in 2002.
Kudarat also claimed to have been a former member of the terror group but he surrendered to government forces and declared clear in 2004.
Following his clearance, he later migrated to Negros Occidental and temporarily resided with his live-in partner in Silay City.
Vargas added the two are facing charges for illegal possession of firearms, and are currently detained at the Silay City Police Station.
Despite the arrests, both the PRO-18 and even 3rd Infantry Division commander Major Gen. Jon Aying, on Tuesday, reiterated their assurance the Negros Island Region (NIR) is safe from the terror group./WDJ