Kidnap group leader, follower killed in firefight

TWO people, including a kidnap-for-ransom-group (KFRG) leader, were killed in a firefight with government troops in the province of Lanao del Sur.

The military said the firefight took place around 3:40 p.m. Friday at sitio Kabaturan, Mikulabo village, Picong in Lanao del Sur.

The slain KFRG leader was identified as Amie Andie and one of his followers identified only as a certain Shuh, the military said.

Before the firefight, the military said combined soldiers and police forces swooped down Mikulabo village to serve warrants of arrest against Andie.

However, a firefight broke out when some of Andie’s followers opened fire upon seeing the arriving government forces prompting the troops to fight back.

The troops have recovered a B-40 grenade launcher and two M-16 Armalite rifles from the clash site.

The remains of the two slain outlaws were turned over to the village chief of Mikulabo for proper disposition, the military said.

The military tagged Andie’s group as responsible in kidnappings of local personalities in Lanao del Sur and other parts of the region.

The latest atrocities they were involved was the February 2012 massacre in the village of Lower Tininghalang, Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur, the military said. (Bong Garcia)