[World Bulletin] A man accused of funding the Abu Sayyaf who was allegedly involved in the kidnapping of 21 tourists in Malaysia was arrested by Philippine authorities last week in Quezon City, Manila. At a press briefing on Tuesday, police spokesman Wilson Asueta said Abulpatta Escalon Abubakar, also known as "Kitong" or "Imran", was arrested last Thursday.Abubakar was alleged to be involved in the kidnapping of ten tourists from Europe and the Middle East and 11 Malaysian resort workers at the Pulau Sipadan resort in Sabah, Malaysia on April 23, 2000, Asueta said. He also insinuated that Abubakar had been financing the terrorist group while he was in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia since 1997 until this year, through Abu Sayyaf leaders Radullan Sahiron and Isnilon Hapilon.
Abubakar was previously arrested in September when he returned to the country from Saudi Arabia but was immediately released because his identity was not clearly substantiated.