Businessman abducted in Zamboanga City

Armed men abducted a businessman at his eatery near the shore of Zamboanga City on Friday night, police said.

Senior Supt. Edwin de Ocampo, officer-in-charge of the Zamboanga City Police, identified the victim as Edgar Favella, 50, owner of a “carinderia” along the highway near the shore of Brgy. Maasin.

Favella is also engaged in logistics and transport services, owning some hauling trucks, a source said.

Five men, of whom two were carrying short firearms, seized Favella in front of his eatery around 6:45 p.m. and forced him into a pumpboat, De Ocampo said in a phone interview.

Favella’s son Sandy saw the commotion and tried to fight off the abductors, but withdrew when one pointed a gun at him, De Ocampo said.

“Tutulungan sana niya ‘yung tatay niya dahil nakita niya dun sa labas, eh nung tinutukan na siya ng baril din, tumakbo na siya sa loob nung karinderya,” the police official said.

“Parang mga bagito (ang mga abductor)… kasi nakipagsuntukan pa,” De Ocampo noted.

Three of the abductors took Favella with them on the pumpboat while the other two escaped on a motorcycle, he said.

Members of the local police, Navy, PNP Special Action Force, and Maritime Group scoured the shores and waters of Brgy. Maasin until Saturday morning, but found no sign of the abductors.

De Ocampo said there is a possibility that the abductors took Favella to Basilan so he alerted authorities there about the abduction.

Maasin, part of Zamboanga City’s 136-kilometer shoreline, lies in the east coast facing Basilan, he noted.

Intelligence operatives have also been ordered to check the coast thoroughly, De Ocampo added. (John Roson)

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2 rebels killed in Zambo Norte clash

Two suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members were killed in a clash with government troops in Leon B. Postigo, Zamboanga del Norte, Wednesday afternoon, the military said.

The clash also resulted in the wounding of another rebel and a soldier, as well as the recovery of an M16 rifle from the rebel side, Capt. Alberto Caber, spokesman of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, said.

Members of the 10th Infantry Battalion were conducting security patrols in Sitio Napolan, Brgy.Tinuyop, around 3 p.m. when they encountered about 20 rebels, Caber said.

Lt. Col. Taharudin Ampatuan, commander of the 10th IB, said his troops went to the area to respond to reports that rebels were again extorting from residents.

The rebels fled after an hour of fighting, Ampatuan said, adding that troops were still conducting pursuit operations as of Wednesday evening. (John Roson)

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Sayyaf in arrested in Zambo mall

An alleged Abu Sayyaf member wanted for several kidnapping incidents and the Lamitan Siege was arrested inside a mall in Zamboanga City on Tuesday, police said.

Algaber Said, who has a P600,000 bounty on his head, was arrested at the Gateway Mall around 10:30 a.m., PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo said.

Members of the PNP Special Action Force, Air Force Intelligence and Security Group, and National Bureau of Investigation carried outh the arrest, he said.

Said, who uses the alias Talha, was allegedly involved in the kidnappings in Tumahubong, Golden Harvest Plantation, the Lamitan Siege – all in Basilan – and served as a “spotter” for the Abu Sayyaf’s kidnap-for-ransom activities, Cerbo said.

The suspect has been brought to the NBI Regional Office 9 for investigation, he said. (John Roson)

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Sayyaf in Jehovah’s Witnesses abduction falls in Zambo

Authorities arrested an alleged Abu Sayyaf member wanted for the abduction of Jehovah’s Witnesses preachers in Sulu 10 years ago, during an operation in Zamboanga City on Friday.

Suspect Walid Amping was arrested in Brgy. Tulongatung around 11:20 a.m., Senior Supt. James Mejia, Zamboanga City Police director, said.

The arrest was made after witnesses positively identified the suspect, Mejia said.

Amping, who was only in his teens during the abduction, has been using the name Alexander Antonio after going into hiding, said a police source, who requested anonymity for lack of authority to speak on the matter.

The suspect’s real name was only discovered when relatives visited him in detention, the source said.

Amping is presently being investigated for his possible involvement in the abduction of school teacher Flordeliza Ongchua in Brgy. Labuan on Nov. 13, the source added.

Capt. Alberto Caber, spokesman of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, said Amping, who also uses the alias Tuma, is facing six counts of kidnapping for ransom and serious illegal detention.

Members of the Army’s Task Force Zamboanga, 3rd Air Division, and Zamboanga City Police carried out the arrest on a warrant issued by Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 266 Judge Toribio Ilao, he said.

On Aug. 20, 2002, Abu Sayyaf members kidnapped six Jehovah’s Witnesses preachers and their Muslim guide in Jolo, Sulu, and later beheaded two of the victims. (John Roson)

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More crimes expected in wake of Aman scam – Roxas

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas has ordered police in Western Mindanao to prepare for a possible increase in crimes in the wake of an investment scam that duped thousands of people of about P12 billion.

“Retaliation” is expected because people lost their money, Roxas said in a press briefing.

Police have so far monitored at least two burnings of houses and some incidents of threats and physical violence that may be linked to the scam by Aman Futures, he said.

“Since the houses were owned by people who are connected (to the company), it’s a reasonable linkage,” Roxas said.

“Petty crimes” are also expected, he said, adding that police have been told to “intensify” their presence.

Meanwhile, Roxas also ordered the regional interior and local government office to investigate reports that internal revenue allotment of some barangays were invested in the scam. (John Roson)

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Abu Sayyaf member in Lamitan Seige falls

Authorities arrested an alleged Abu Sayyaf member involved in the 2001 Lamitan Siege during an operation in Basilan on Thursday, a military spokesman said.

The suspect, identified only by the alias “Abu Benjamin,” was arrested in Brgy. Oval, Lamitan City, Thursday morning, Capt. Alberto Caber, spokesman of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, said.

Intelligence personnel, along with members of the 32nd Infantry Battalion, PNP Special Action Force, and Lamitan City Police carried out the arrest on warrants kidnapping and serious illegal detention, Caber said.

The case stemmed from Abu Sayyaf members’ invasion of Lamitan City, where they took hostage several personnel of the Jose Maria Torres Memorial Hospital and raided the St. Peter’s Church.

The siege followed the May 27, 2001 kidnapping at the Dos Palmas resort in Palawan, where Abu Sayyaf members abducted several tourists – including Americans Martin and Gracia Burnham and Guillermo Sobero – and brought them to Basilan.

Sobero was beheaded the same year while Martin Burnham and Filipina nurse Ediborah Yap were killed when Abu Sayyaf members clashed with government troops who were conducting a rescue operation in June 2002. (John Roson)

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Zamboanga del Sur police director sacked over investment scam

The Philippine National Police has relieved its provincial director in Zamboanga del Sur for failing to stop an investment scam that duped thousands of people of about P12 billion.

Senior Supt. William Marzan’s relief as head of the provincial command took effect Thursday, Chief Supt. Napoleon Estilles, Zamboaga Peninsula regional police director, said.

“Inutusan kasi siya (Marzan) na itigil ‘yun, pigilan. Ang daming biktima, pati ‘yung mga tauhan niya nag-ivest doon,” Estilles said in a phone interview.

Marzan was replaced by Senior Supt. Romeo Uy, Estilles said.

Estilles earlier relieved Pagadian City Police chief Supt. Kenneth Mission and nine personnel of the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Police’s intelligence section for their failure to stop and alleged involvement in the scam by Aman Futures Group Phils. Inc.

In a press briefing, PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo said Aman Futures duped at least 53 policemen, who invested salaries, savings, and even loans.

“Maraming nag-loan sa mga lending institutions, ‘yung iba utang sa kamag-anak,” Cerbo said.

Most of the victims, however, are low-income civilians who invested hard-earned money, just to avail of profits that reportedly go as high as 80 percent of the investment in 20 to 30 days.

In a press statement, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said 80 percent of the about 15,000 victims are from Pagadian City, while the others are from Marawi City, Ozamis City, Iligan City, and even Cebu.

Aman took the hard-earned money from retirees, teachers, police, farmers, and even pastors, Roxas said.

“This scam was perpetrated starting as early as February and there have been very loud indicators that this scam was happening. People were lining up as early as 2 in the morning to try to get in the premises of Aman,” he said.

“The fact that there was no report that filtered up from the [Pagadian] City PNP to the province, to the region, all the way to headquarters indicates, at the very least, negligence or laziness,” Roxas added.

Cerbo for his part, said the PNP will not “segregate” complaints by its personnel from that of civilians.

“Ang objective namin dito ay makuhanan statement lahat at matukoy kung sino ang nabiktima para makagawa tayo ng isang malakas na kaso,” he said.

The PNP will coordinate closely with the Department of Justice and National Bureau of Investigation in filing the case, Cerbo said.

The NBI, as of Wednesday, was already processing 8,000 complaints against Aman Futures, Cerbo said.

He said the investment company’s founder, Manuel Amalilio, has reportedly been traced in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. (John Roson)

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Acting school head gunned down in Tawi-Tawi

The acting principal of an elementary school supervised by the Mindanao State University (MSU) died after being shot outside a church in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, Tuesday night, police said.

Ponchita Francisco, acting principal of the Laboratory Elementary School, succumbed to a bullet wound on the head, Senior Supt. Rodelio Jocson, Tawi-Tawi Provincial Police director, said.

The incident occurred around 6:20 p.m., just outside the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish.

Francisco, 62, had just come out of the church and was waiting for a ride when a man on a motorcycle passed by and shot her “point blank,” Jocson said in a phone interview.

“Parang planado ‘yung pagbaril, kasi eksakto na paglabas niya (Francisco) sa simbahan,” the police official said, adding that the area was dark that time because of a “rotational” power outage.

Investigators believe that the killing had something to do with Francisco’s position at the school, Jocson said. (John Roson)

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Soldier killed in Zamboanga del Sur ambush

A soldier was killed in an ambush by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members in Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur, Tuesday afternoon, the military said.

Capt. Alberto Caber, spokesman of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, identified the slain as Cpl. Anthony Bahala, of the 53rd Infantry Battalion.

Bahala was riding a motorcycle at the boundary of Brgys. Bugwak and Dalapan, when about 10 suspected members of the NPA Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee fired upon him, Caber said.

Lt. Col. Victor Tanggawohn, commander of the 53rd IB, said Bahala was sent to Dalapan to check the presence of rebels conducting extortion activities and was on his way back to his base in Guipos when he was attacked.

“Cpl. Bahala was able to return fire against his assailants. Traces of blood were seen by the first responders at a vegetated area where the assailants positioned,” Tanggawohn said.

Soldiers and policemen are now pursuing the attackers, he added. (John Roson)

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2 drown, 1 missing in Mindanao floods

Two people drowned while another is still missing as flash floods caused by a low-pressure area (LPA) hit several areas in Western, Central, and Southern Mindanao, authorities said.

Ruel Aling, 22, and Zosito Andamon, 28, drowned when floods hit Sta. Cruz and Digos City, Davao del Sur, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

Authorities are searching for Arjay Javier, who went missing after jumping into a river in Makilala, North Cotabato, which had strong water current caused by heavy rains.

The 17-year-old Javier was reportedly drunk on Sunday afternoon when he jumped into the river and was carried away by the strong current, the NDRRMC said.

Rains brought by the LPA also hit Davao del Sur on Sunday night, causing the Sibulan River in Sta. Cruz to overflow. Waters from the river flooded Brgys. Darong, Sibulan, and Astorga.

Floods also struck 21 barangays in Sultan Kudarat and Buldon, both of Maguindanao, as well as Brgy. Poblacion in Balabagan, Lanao del Sur, the NDRRMC said.

“Waist-deep floods and strong winds occurred in these areas, causing passengers to be stranded for few hours,” NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos said.

The latest flooding occurred in Imelda, Zamboanga Sibugay, around 4 a.m. Monday.

The continuous heavy rainfall brought by the LPA and Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone caused the water level at the Sibuguey Valley River to rise, according Ramos.

Waters from the swollen river caused floods in Brgys. Poblacion, Balugo, Sta. Barbara, San Jose, La Victoria, Gandiangan, Lumpanac, and Lower Baluran, he said.

Some 250 families from Brgy. Poblacion were evacuated to higher ground and took shelter at a “bagsakan center,” while the affected residents of the other barangays opted to stay with relatives, Ramos said. (John Roson)

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