ZAMBOANGA CITY -- A suspected leader of a notorious extort group and one of his followers were killed in a 30-minute clash with military forces in the hinterlands of Zamboanga del Sur, a top military official disclosed Friday.
Army’s 1st Infantry Division commander, Maj. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, said the clash occurred around 5:40 p.m. Thursday along the shoreline of Sitio Gunsili, Barangay Danganan, Lapuyan municipality.
Cruz identified the slain suspect and leader a lawless group as Amih Andi while the identity of his cohort was not immediately known.
Cruz said the clash ensued when troops from the 44th Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Col. Yegor Rey Barroquillo, Jr. were checking the reported presence of armed men along the Gunsili shoreline.
The presence of armed men in the place was tipped off by concerned civilians.
He said the firefight lasted for about 30 minutes and Andi’s group escaped under cover of darkness.
He said the troops that pursued the fleeing suspects were informed that Andi and one of his followers were killed in the clash but their bodies were taken by the fleeing suspects.
Andi is one of the most wanted persons in Zamboanga del Sur. His group is believed responsible in the February 23, 2012 massacre of six people, including children, in Barangay Tininghalang, Lapuyan town.
The municipal government of Lapuyan as well as the provincial government raised a P300,000 reward for Andi’s arrest.
His group is also known to be behind several extortion activities victimizing fishermen in Lapuyan and in nearby municipalities of Zamboanga del Sur province.
Cruz ordered his troops to go after the remaining members of Andi’s group and told the troops “to remain vigilant against lawless elements to ensure the safety and well being of the peace-loving people in the province.”
He thanked and encouraged the civilian populace and the local government units to continue the “bayanihan” spirit of extending support to law enforcement agencies by way of giving information against groups that threaten the peace and security in the area.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=511536
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