Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Suspects in Zamboanga killings known, charged
By Bong Garcia
A top police official said they have already established the identities of the suspects behind the recent series of killings victimizing even the men in uniform in Zamboanga City.
Acting City Police Director Mario Yanga disclosed on Monday that at least two groups of suspects were involved in the spate of killings.
Yanga said criminal charges were filed against four persons, including a former soldier, tagged as among the members of one group of suspects behind the incidents. A manhunt operation continues against the other culprits.
Yanga branded one group as a criminal gang responsible for the killing of a Taiwanese businessman identified as Huang Mawang.
Mawang, who was engaged in the cellular phone business, was killed in the evening of October 26 along Tomas Claudio Street just near the commercial district of this city.
Yanga refused to divulge the identity of the second group whose members are said to be behind the killings of men in uniform.
Col. Mark Supnet, chief of the military's anti-terrorist Task Force Zamboanga, is inclined to believe that the perpetrators are members of the urban terrorist group (UTG) of the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf. This is based on observations that the "pattern" in the killings was similar to the incidents that had taken place in the island province of Sulu.
"We have identified the suspects responsible for the killings of men in uniform," Yanga said without further elaboration, citing that a manhunt has been launched to arrest them.
So far, 12 people were killed since October 19 in the different parts of this city. The victims include three policemen, two soldiers, three businessmen, an airport employee, and two other civilians.
Yanga, who was designated as acting police chief on Oct. 29, said they have raided several suspected safe houses of the second group of suspects but these "turned out empty."
"Most likely, they are no longer here [in the city]. "Baka nagpapalamig muna sila," he said.
He declined to say whether the Abu Sayyaf's UTG is behind the killing of policemen and other victims.
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cebu. (November 7, 2006 issue)
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