2 kidnap gang members nabbed in North Cotabato

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Joint military and police forces arrested two members of the notorious local kidnapping and criminal group syndicate Friday in Kabacan, North Cotabato, according to military spokesman here.

Maj. Felimon Tan Jr., spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), identified the two suspects as Menu Maganaka alias “Derby” and Rex Bacana alias “Toto," members of the notorious Pentagon group, a criminal syndicate based in Central Mindanao.

He said the troops from the 7th Infantry Battalion led by 1st Lt. Jose Carlos Gamos and local police launched the operation following reports of the illegal activities perpetrated by the Pentagon group in Kabacan town about 4:30 a.m. Friday.

“The operation led to the arrest of the two suspects,” Tan said.

The troops and police forces also recovered from the suspects an M16 rifle with eight magazines, including three caliber .45 pistols with four magazines.