2 ‘kidnappers’ caught in Sibugay

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  â€“ Police and military forces captured two alleged members of a kidnapping syndicate in an operation in Ipil town, Zamboanga Sibugay on Saturday.

Alvin Prontoso alias Albayin, and Hajer Dunggan Mohammad alias Yusop were said to be members of a kidnapping syndicate led by a certain Mamay Aburi, provincial police director Senior Superintendent Roy Bahian said.

Bahian said a raid on Aburi’s alleged safehouse in Barangay Tenan led to the arrest of the suspects at about 5 a.m. The raiding team was out to serve a warrant against the group for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Aburi and three of his men eluded arrest, Bahian said.

Capt. Jefferson Mamauag, spokesman for the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, said Aburi’s group was reportedly planning a kidnapping in Pagadian City. The group allegedly wanted to demand P2 million as ransom.

He said Aburi and his men were reportedly behind a series of kidnappings and extortion incidents in Zamboanga Sibugay, including the snatching of a certain Alexa dela Cruz in Payao town in January. 

The raiding team recovered two fragmentation grenades, a detonating cord, an M14 rifle, a Garrand rifle, an M16 rifle and assorted ammunition from the suspects.