ZAMBOANGA CITY – Security forces raided an island off Zamboanga City early Friday and arrested an Abu Sayyaf militant implicated in several kidnappings here.
Officials said Wahid Pingli was tracked down by soldiers and policemen on a hideout in Sacol Island where he had been arrested.
An automatic rifle was also recovered by the raiders from the hideout in the village called Landang Laum, said Marine Captain Maria Rowena Muyuela, a spokeswoman for the Western Mindanao Command.
Pingli, who also goes by the name of Gafur, was linked to the kidnappings of a local businessman Inocente Bautista in May 27, 2008 and Vicente Barrios on June 17, 2010. Police identified the suspect as Gafur Pingli.
Muyuela said the militant is currently being interrogated by authorities. “Pingli’s arrest was made possible through the joint law enforcement operations of the military and police,” she said.
No other details were released to the press by the military or the police about the militant or whether Pingli’s group was planning an attack or kidnappings in Zamboanga City.
The Abu Sayyaf previously bombed a karaoke bar in Zamboanga City that injured a policeman. (Mindanao Examiner)
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