2 kidnap gang members fall in Zamboanga Sibugay

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippine - - Combined police and military forces captured two members of kidnap gang members  operating in Zamboanga Sibugay during a raid Saturday in a village of Ipil town, according to security officials.

The raid also foiled the gang's  attempt to plan another kidnapping in Pagadian City within this week, according to the security officials.

Senior Superintendent Roy Bahian, provincial police director, identified the suspects as Alvin Prontoso alias Albayin, and Hajer Dunggan Mohammad alias Yusop, all native of Naga town, Zamboanga Sibugay and members of a kidnap for ransom group led by Mamay Aburi.

Bahian said joint police and military forces swooped down on and raided the safehouse of Aburi at Barangay Tenan, Ipil town about 5:30 a.m. Saturday.

The raiding team was armed with a warrant of arrest against the group for the crime of illegal possession of firearms and explosive.

Bahian said Aburi, the leader of the group, with three other members escaped but two of his followers were captured during the raid.

Capt. Jefferson Mamauag, spokesman of 1st Army Division, said the group of Aburi was planning the abduction of a  victim in exchange for a P2-million ransom.

Aburi’s group was responsible for the series of kidnapping and extortion activities in Zamboanga Sibugay province, including the kidnapping of an Alexa dela Crus in Payao town on January 11.

The raiding forces recovered from the possession of the two captured suspects two fragmentation grenades, a detonating cord, one M14 rifle, a garrand rifle, an M16 armalite rifle, assorted ammunition and 32 pumpboats.  - Roel Pareño