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Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Kidnap gang leader in Basilan nabbed
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Combined police and military forces have foiled a kidnapping after they arrested Sunday night the right-hand of a kidnap-for-ransom-group based in the island province of Basilan.
Zamboanga City Police Office director Lurimer Detran said Monday that Reynante Bacalso was captured following a 15-minute firefight at sea between the government forces and the kidnappers near Tigtabon Island, 8.5 kilometers east of this city.
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Bacalso is the right-hand of a kidnap-for-ransom-group led by Usman Lidjal, an alleged Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leader who has ties with the Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan province.
Lidjal's group is based in Marang-Marang in the town of Tuburan, Basilan.
Detran said they have launched a manhunt operation to locate the whereabouts of two Lidjal's followers who were wounded during the clash.
"Pinaghahanap pa namin sila (We are still locating their whereabouts)," Detran said, adding that the government troops have already conducted an anti-kidnapping operation Monday night.
Bacalso was presented to reporters Monday morning by Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief Lieutenant General Nelson Allaga at Laong Laan Hall of the Westmincom headquarters in Camp Don Basilio Navarro.
Allaga said the firefight ensued when the troops intercepted Bacalso along with some followers near the island village of Tigtabon while the group was on the way to stage another kidnapping in Zamboanga City.
The group was allegedly targeting a businesswoman engaged in mineral water and at the same time a fashion designer.
Both the police and military officials, however, did not disclose how they managed to intercept Bacalso and his companions. They only said there is a continuous intelligence monitoring in and around the city.
Bacalso led the kidnapping of businessman Innocente Bautista, 58, last May 27 in Zamboanga City.
Bautista, the manager of Western Mindanao Corporation (Wesmidco) that distributes Mead Johnsons and Zafi products, was seized shortly after 6 p.m. from his office in Cabato Road, Tetuan village.
The kidnappers hid Bautista in the hinterlands of Maluso town and freed him in the evening of June 9, following alleged payment of P10-million ransom.
The police learned that Bacalso was a former employee of Bautista. (Bong Garcia/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (August 12, 2008 issue)
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