Another Pentagon man falls

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao — Operatives of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division arrested yesterday another henchman of slain Pentagon kidnap gang leader Tahir Alonto.

The suspect, Tanto Ali, alias Wali and Tanny, was the second to fall since the military’s Aug. 13 bombing of their lair in this province which resulted in the death of Alonto and 17 of his men.

Lt. Col. Franklin del Prado, 6th ID civil-military relations officer, said Ali was implicated in five recent kidnappings in Cotabato City and surrounding towns.

He said Ali was under surveillance for a month before members of the 6th ID caught him in Barangay Bulalo in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

Ali was tagged as one of those who masterminded the abductions of Chinese trader Pablo Cua in Cotabato City in 1997; commercial warehouse operator Cu Beng Cua in Sultan Kudarat on Oct. 16, 1999; Al Vincent Uy in Midsayap, North Cotabato on Dec. 8, 2002; and retired public school teacher Domingo Cubita last March 25.

Del Prado said Muslim preachers in Sultan Kudarat provided information on Ali’s whereabouts.

Ali’s arrest came about two weeks after members of the Army’s 604th Infantry Brigade gunned down Anton Kapuyak, alias Ahman Kurato, believed to be a likely successor of Alonto, during a raid on his hideout in Buluan, Maguindanao.

Kapuyak was wanted for more than a dozen kidnappings, multiple murders and drug trafficking.

Del Prado said the military is still hot on the trail of two other key followers of Alonto, Ma—yangkang Saguile and Samad Pandita, who carry a P2-million prize on their heads each.