2 kidnap ring members nabbed

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Joint military and police forces arrested two suspected members of a kidnapping group in Kabacan, North Cotabato on Friday, a military official said yesterday.

Menu Maganaka, alias Derby, and Rex Bacana, alias Toto, were members of the Pentagon kidnapping group, a criminal syndicate based in Central Mindanao, according to Maj. Felimon Tan Jr., spokesperson for the Western Mindanao Command.

Tan said troopers of the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion led by 1/Lt. Jose Carlos Gamos and members of the local police responded to reports that the group was conducting illegal activities in Kabacan.

Authorities recovered a rifle and three pistols from the suspect.