Isnilon Totoni Hapilon
Radullan Shahiron
SANDAKAN: Abductors of the recent kidnapping incident at Ocean King Seafood Restaurant here have been identified as the same abductors of the Sipadan Island hostage-taking incident in 2000, who are on FBI’s ‘Most Wanted Terrorists’ list.
In a report by an online news portal, The Rakyat Post, the two assailants, Isnilon Totoni Hapilon and Radullan Shahiron or Commander One Arm, both leaders of the Abu Sayyaf criminal group, are the last two remaining kidnappers among ten armed men who took ten Europeans and South Africans, and 11 Malaysians captive, on April 23, 2000.
Before the kidnapping incident in Sandakan, Isnilon and Radullan were already on FBI’s ‘Most Wanted Terrorists’ list, with reward of USD5 million for information that would lead to their arrest.
The Abu Sayyaf criminal group is known to use Jolo Island as their refuge.
The report sourced from a military official also stated that intelligence revealed the two captured victims from here had landed at Jolo Island over the weekend.
Based on initial investigation, the assailants reached one of the Turtle Islands, where they then continued island hopping before reaching Jolo.
The Malaysian and Philippine authorities were alerted with information that the kidnappers had turned over the captives to the Abu Sayyaf group for a fee.
“We received numerous reports of the captives being between Indanan and Patikul. Now we are only waiting for a positive identification,” the military official said.
A local, Thien Nyuk Fun, 50, and a Sarawakian tourist, Bernard Then Ted Fen, 39, were abducted by a group of armed assailants with an M16 rifle, a pistol and a boat, at Ocean King Seafood Restaurant here last Thursday night at around 7.26pm.
The report says the authorities are expected to contact Jolo Governor Totoh Tan II for his cooperation and assistance in negotiating for the victims’ release.