Rewards up for Pentagon men

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The hunt for leaders and members of the "Pentagon" kidnap-for-ransom group got a boost after President Arroyo announced over the weekend rewards for their capture, a military spokesman said.

Army Col. Danilo Servando, spokesman of the Armed Forces’ Southern Command, said they have received information from various sources about the Pentagon members.

He, however, said the military is carefully evaluating the information before launching any move against the notorious kidnapping group which the United States has included in its list of international terrorists.

Mrs. Arroyo announced the rewards for the Pentagon men’s capture in Cotabato City last Saturday. The bounties: P5 million for Pentagon leader Tahir Alonto; P1 million for each for the sub-leaders; and P100,000 for each of the active members.

"The reward announcement of the President for members of the Pentagon has gained interest. In fact, the military has received various information about the group," Servando said.

The former Estrada government similarly put up a reward system for the capture of leaders and followers of the extremist Abu Sayyaf group. One of those who fell under this system was Nadzmie Saabtulla alias Commander Global.

Saabtulla, considered the brains of the Abu Sayyaf, was captured by a police-military team in General Santos City following a tip-off. The informer got a P5-million reward.

The Pentagon group was responsible for the abduction of four Chinese nationals and their Chinese-Filipino interpreter last year.

The group is believed to be holding Italian priest Guiseppe Pierantoni captive. The priest was snatched in Dinas, Zam—boanga del Sur last Nov. 17.

Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu, Southcom commander, said 25 US military advisers and personnel are arriving on Jan. 15 to train two more companies of Filipino soldiers as light reaction units (LRCs).

The United States introduced the LRCs to help fight global terrorism.

Cimatu revealed that the joint Philippine-US war exercises dubbed Balikatan may be held at the Southcom base and Edwin Andrews Air Base here.