Authorities occupy kidnappers’ lair in Zambo Sibugay

Police and military forces in Zamboanga Sibugay on Wednesday occupied an area supposedly held by a kidnap and extortion group allegedly involved in a clash with government troops last week, in which eight soldiers and policemen died. Army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz said government troops took over the armed group’s camp in Sitio Talib in Payao town at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Recovered from the territory of the armed group supposedly led by fugitive Waning Abdulsalam were improvised explosive devices or IEDs, Ortiz added. Chief Superintendent Elpidio de Asis, Zamboanga regional police chief, said the joint police-military force also wants to gain control of a small part of Barangay Labatan, supposedly used by the Abdulsalam syndicate “as a safe haven for kidnapping activities." “The law enforcement operations in Payao will continue until the group of Abdulsalam [cease to] resist the serving of arrest warrants for their past crimes," he said in a text message. Pursuit operations and air strikes were launched by government forces in Zamboanga Sibugay against Abdulsalam’s group, days after they reportedly clashed with troops in the area. 2 armed men surrender Major Harold Cabunoc, acting Army spokesperson, meanwhile, said that two armed men believed to be members of the kidnap group surrendered to authorities last Monday. Cabunoc identified the supposed members of the Abdulsalam group as Nuhurin Intang and Usman Ajijun. He added that the two men who turned themselves over to the military carried a 60mm mortar, an M79 grenade launcher and an M16 rifle. The military is also conducting security patrols in the area to prevent any attacks on government forces, he said. — With Andreo Calonzo/VS, GMA News