Pentagon leader behind abduction of Italian priest, 5 Sinos captured

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Soldiers have captured a Muslim rebel-turned-gangster who was allegedly behind the abduction of an Italian priest and five Chinese engineers, the military said yesterday.

Norham Amil, also known as "Commander Ramsey," a leader of the Pentagon kidnap-for-ransom group, was nabbed late Tuesday at an Army checkpoint in Leon Postigo, Zamboanga del Sur, said Army chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon.

Ali was one of the most wanted fugitives in the country and had a bounty of P500,000 on his head.

His gang is composed of former Muslim separatist rebels who have turned to crime. It is known mainly for kidnapping Christians and foreigners and holding them for ransom in Mindanao.

Esperon said operations would continue against both the Pentagon and the Abu Sayyaf, another Muslim kidnapping gang active in the South.

Ali is believed to have been behind the abduction of Italian priest Giuseppe Pierantoni from his convent in Dimataling, Zamboanga del Sur in October 2001, holding him for several weeks until a ransom was paid.

The Pentagon group also snatched five Chinese engineers working on a government irrigation project in Carmen, North Cotabato in 2001. Two of the Chinese died during a rescue attempt.

The United States has included the Pentagon group in its list of "foreign terrorist organizations." — Roel Pareño, Jaime Laude and AFP