2 kidnappers killed in Zambo Norte

From Malaya Business Insight (Sep 20): 2 kidnappers killed in Zambo Norte

TWO kidnappers were killed in a firefight with Army soldiers out to rescue the son of a mayor earlier abducted by the suspects in Sibuco town in Zamboanga del Norte last Sunday afternoon.

The slain suspects have yet to be identified but the military said they belong to a kidnap-for-ransom group led by a former commander of the Moro National Liberation Front.

Troops from the Army’s 42nd Infantry Battalion were conducting rescue operations when they caught up with around 10 armed men in Barangay Panganuran around 2 p.m. Sunday, leading to a 10-minute firefight.

Capt. Jo-ann Petinglay, spokesperson of the AFP’s Western Mindanao Command, said soldiers later retrieved the bodies of the two suspects.

Petinglay said government soldiers also recovered   a Garand rifle, a carbine automatic rifle, an improvised shotgun,   ammunition, a camouflage uniform and documents.

Petinglay said the   kidnappers were led by Ustadz Kadjo Tungayaw alias Commander Kadjo.

“Commander Kadjo was a former member of the Moro National Liberation Front. However, he was disowned by MNLF Commander Asbirin for coddling lawless and criminal elements in the area,” said Petinglay.

The military stepped up operations in Zamboanga del Norte since the kidnapping of Jade Quimbo, son of Mayor Eddie Quimbo of Labason town in Zamboanga del Norte Wednesday last week.

Reports said Jade was in his store in Barangay Poblacion when the suspects, posing as customers, seized him.

Four members of the   Abu Sayyaf, including a minor, surrendered to the military on Saturday night in Pata island in Sulu. The four yielded an M16 rifle and three Garand riles.

The four were identified as 17-year-old Emar Ladjar Udjah; Aldin Hadil Akmad, 25; Willing Ibba Jaabal, 45, and Ijal Samsain Sadjal, 25.

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu, said the four surrendered through the efforts of the 3rd Sulu Civilian Active Auxiliary Company and the Special Intelligence Team.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/2-kidnappers-killed-zambo-norte