JOINT police and military operatives have captured a member of a kidnap-for-ransom-group (KFRG) following a shootout in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, the police said Monday.
Police Regional Office (PRO)-Zamboanga Peninsula information cfficer-in-charge Inspector Dahlan Samuddin identified the captured KFRG member as Honrato Encabo, alias Jojo, who was wounded during the shootout.
Samuddin said the government operatives swooped down the hideout of Encabo around 9 p.m. Saturday at Sitio Dapdapin the village of Kawayan, Alicia town.
He said the shootout ensued when Encabo opened fire upon seeing the arriving troops, who were on a mission to serve the warrants of arrest against the suspect.
He said Encabo is charged with kidnapping with serious illegal detention and robbery before a court in the Municipality of Imelda, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Samuddin said that corresponding warrants of arrest were issued for the arrest of Encabo.
He said respondent of the two criminal cases is a member of Reme Sabtal Criminal Gang, formerly known as Mamay Aburi Group, whose criminal activities are primarily kidnapping, extortion and highway robbery.
He said Encabo was admitted and guarded at a hospital in Ipil, the capital town of Zamboanga Sibugay. A caliber .45 pistol with ammunition was recovered from his possession. (Bong Garcia)