MILF rebels tagged in Zamboanga kidnap

MANILA, Philippines - Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels were accused of being involved in the kidnapping of a grandson of a former Zamboanga del Norte mayor last Aug. 27.

Lt. Col. Bagnus Gaerlan, chief of the Army’s 44th Infantry Battalion, said they received information that elements of the MILF’s 113th Base Command seized Donald John Capili, 19, grandson of former Liloy town mayor Benchu Uy, and brought him to Basilan.

Gaerlan said the 113th Base Command is known for extortion and sea piracy.

Six armed men on board a green multicab snatched Capili in the office of his family-owned gasoline station.

The armed men then boarded three pumpboats along with Capili. They were later seen heading toward Labason town.

Gaerlan also tagged the MILF’s 113th Base Command led by one Kamsa Asdanal in the killing of two civilians and a militiaman on Diosan Island in Zamboanga del Norte yesterday morning.

He said they have sent troops to the area to investigate the incident. – With Jaime Laude