ZAMBOANGA CITY ,Philippines – A member of a rebel group tagged in the kidnapping of an Australian national was killed while another was arrested in an encounter with government operatives in Sitio Gang in Barangay Mamagon in Naga town in Zamboanga Sibugay province, officials said yesterday.
Chief Superintendent Napoleon Estilles, Police Regional Office 9 director, said the clash occurred when members of the 44th Infantry Battalion and policemen launched a pursuit operation against the kidnap gang allegedly led by Waning Abdusalam at around 2 a.m last Saturday.
Estilles identified the slain suspect as Batoto Abdusalam, alias Halifa Omar.Hader Magatos, who was wounded during the encounter, was captured.
Abdusalam’s group is wanted for a series of kidnappings targeting both residents and foreigners in the Zamboanga peninsula. The group, which has links with the Abu Sayyaf group based in Basilan, was tagged in the kidnapping of Australian Warren Richard Rodwell, 56, a native of Sydney.
Rodwell, a former soldier married to Filipina Mariflor Gutang, was kidnapped last Dec. 5 at his home in Barangay Upper Pangi in Ipil town.
Police and military officials are also looking into the possibility that the group was behind the kidnapping of Salug, Zamboanga del Norte Mayor Jeffrey Lim last April 2.