ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY – Police are holding a criminal gang sub-leader, whose group was linked to the kidnapping of an Australian man 3 years ago in Zamboanga Sibugay province in southern Philippines.
Police said Hassim Calon, alias Ging-Ging Calon and Hussein Ali, was arrested on December 11 in the village of Tenan in Ipil town where Warren Rodwell was kidnapped in December 2011.
Calon is one of the sub-leaders under the group of Barahama Ali, a commander of the former rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation which signed a peace accord with Manila in March this year. Authorities had implicated Ali to the kidnapping of Rodwell, an accusation denied by the MILF.
Police said Calon, who is facing a string of criminal charges for kidnappings, is currently being interrogated in an unknown location.
It was not immediately known whether Calon took part in the kidnapping of Rodwell, who was seized by at least 5 gunmen disguised as policemen.
The foreigner was eventually handed over or sold by the kidnappers to the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan province.
Rodwell, who was married to a Filipino woman, Miraflor Gutang, was freed on March 2013 after his brother and sisters paid a huge ransom to the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group which is notorious for beheading their victims who cannot pay ransoms. (Mindanao Examiner)
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