Cops used gang member to locate Mindanao's most wanted man

From the Philippine News Agency (May 2): Cops used gang member to locate Mindanao's most wanted man

The arrest in April of one of the members of an extortion group led to the arrest of more gang members and one of the most wanted man who bolted and outsmarted government jail officers twice, officials said.

The arrest of Datukan Samad, also known as "Commander Lastikman," and a member of al-Khobar extortion gang, came a month after police agents nabbed Ogie Piang Kimbaw, a member of al-Khobar extortion gang that prey on passenger buses and public transport.

Supt. Rodelio Jocson, Maguindanao police chief, said Kimbaw was a companion of Samad when they bolted the Maguindanao provincial jail in Cotabato City on May 2, 2012.

Samad, who was facing kidnapping, extortion, multiple murder and highway robbery charges, was moved from Kidapawan City jail to Maguindanao where he bolted months later.

While in Kidapawan jail, Samad's followers tried but failed to rescue him. However, three persons were killed, including a Red Cross volunteer giving first aid to wounded civilians, when the attackers fired rocket propelled grenades.

Responding members of the Kidapawan City fire department forced the gunmen to flee toward Barangay Nungan.

Police and military agents believed Samad was a member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. But the MILF disowned him.

A police intelligence officer said Samad's arrest on Wednesday night at a beer joint in Tacurong City was carried out after Kimbaw provided the police with information on Mindanao's most wanted man.

Before Samad's arrest in Tacurong City, Kimbaw also helped the police in locating Tahir Abubakar, al-Khobar gang member in Buluan, Maguindanao.

Chief Supt. Noel delos Reyes, police director for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), said the arrest of Abubakar was carried out by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG-ARMM) by virtue of an arrest warrant for murder issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 11 in Digos City in 2012.

Abubakar who carries a P400,00 for his arrest, accordint to police intelligence officer, was also linked to bombings in Regions 11 and 12, including the bus terminal in Digos City.

Abubakar is now detained at the President Quirino Police Station Detention Facility. He will be moved to Taguig Detention Facility since authorities considered him to be a high profile inmate.

A day after Abubakar was arrested, Commander Lastikman was also cornered at a beer house in Tacurong City.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=639882