AFP, PNP arrest Abu Sayyaf member in Sacol Island

From the Zamboanga Today (Nov 29): AFP, PNP arrest Abu Sayyaf member in Sacol Island

Government security forces have captured a notorious Abu Sayyaf member in an island village in the east coast of Zamboanga City.

Capt Rowena Muyuela, regional military spokesperson for the Western Mindanao Command, said joint elements of the Joint Task Group Zamboanga and Zamboanga City Police Office apprehended Wahid Pingli alias Gaffur at Barangay Landang Laum, Sacol Island at around 4:30 a.m. Friday.

According to Muyuela, the suspect has an existing warrant of arrest docketed under Criminal Case Nr. 23708 for Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention issued by Judge Reynerio G. Estacio of Branch 14, Regional Trial Court-Zamboanga City.

Pingli, an Abu Sayyaf member based in Zamboanga City, was involved in the series of kidnappings of the following victims:

1) Inocente Bautista, a businessman, who was abducted on May 27, 2008 in Barangay Tetuan, Zamboanga City and subsequently released on June 09 of the same year in Barangay Manicahan, same city;

2) Vicente Barrios, 60 years old, who was abducted on June 17, 2010 in Barangay Bolong, Zamboanga City and subsequently released on August 21 of the same year.
In the 2012 police record showed Pingli was ranked No. 4 in the list of the 10 most wanted persons in Zamboanga City.

Muyuela said recovered from Pingli were a ELISCO M16A1 with serial number RPO 45896; a short magazine; and 17 rounds of live M16 cartridge.

“Said arrest was made possible through the joint law enforcement operations of the AFP and PNP to expedite arrest of lawless elements in the area,” she said.

http://www.zamboangatoday.ph/index.php/top-stories/19273-afp-pnp-arrest-abu-sayyaf-member-in-sacol-island.html