2 members of kidnap-for-ransom group killed in raid

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - At least two members of a kidnap-for-ransom group were killed on Monday in a pre-dawn raid in Zamboanga City, an official said.

Senior Superintendent Angelito Casimiro, city police director, said six others, including a village chairman who is a commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and a police officer were captured and a member of the police Special Action Force (SAF) was also wounded during the operation following a shootout against the suspects.

Casimiro said joint elements of police forces were implementing the warrant of arrest against the kidnap group at the HKI apartment in Salam Drive, Veterans Avenue extension in Barangay Sta. Maria about 1:30 a.m. Monday when the suspects opened fire.

Casimiro said the target of the raid were 12 suspects but four others were able to escape at the height of the shootout.

The police official said a brief shootout ensued that left two of the suspects killed and a police officer wounded while six other suspects were captured subsequently.

The slain suspects were identified as Jawhari Jamani, native of Sibuco town, Zamboanga del Norte, and Aripin Abani, a resident of Barangay Labuan, a westcoast village of this city in the border of Sibuco. 

Casimiro identified the captured suspects as Mamarin Pillay, a barangay chairman of Barangay Lakiki, Sibuco and MILF commander known with the alias of Panyang; Allan Abdulla, 29; Jackarin Jamani, 22; Nasser Allama alias WAkas, all natives of Sibuco town;  Alahraf Apion, a resident of Barangay Ayala; and Police Officer 1 Saudi Apion, who is assigned with the Lamitan City Police Station in Basilan. 

The wounded police was identified as Police Officer 2 Carlos Bocaig, a member of the Special Action Force (SAF). 

During the raid the operatives recovered four units of .45 caliber pistols, and 3 fragmentation grenades from the possession of the suspects. 

“The suspects were involved in the kidnapping activities and gun running,” Casimiro said. 

He said among the victims of the group were Rebecca Dipay of National Irrigation Administration (NIA), teacher Teresita Ongchua, and a businesswoman of Barangay Patalon about three years ago. 

Casimiro said they were also investigating if the group were also behind the abduction of Michael Co, a trader's son from Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte. 

“This group is umbilically connected with different criminal activities,” Casimiro said. 

He said the neutralized group have linked with a "nameless and faceless" kidnap-for-ransom syndicate that are remnants of the Abu Sayyaf that formed their own cell.