A notorious sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf and Kidnap for Ransom Group was killed after resisting arrest of the joint elements of the military and police in Tawi-Tawi on Tuesday.
Army Captain Jo-Ann Petinglay, the spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WestMinCom), said Buchoy Hassan, alias “Black” or “Bocoi”, was neutralized following a successful law enforcement operation launched by the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi and the police at his residence in Barangay Panglima Alari, Sitangkai.
Recovered by troops were one M16 rifle, five speedboats and several outboard motors found in the residence of the Abu Sayyaf sub-leader.
Hassan, 48, is one of the wanted personalities in Malaysia for his involvement in the abduction of Taiwanese national Chang An Wei, alias “Evelyn Chan”, at the Pom Pom Island Resort in Sabah in November 2013.
The military is alao looking at his possible involvement in recent kidnapping activities.
Hassan recruited cohorts and acquired several speedboats to sustain his illegal activities and became the key facilitator in the illegal drugs trade in Tawi-Tawi.
Meantime, suspected ASG bandits freed a school teacher a week after the abduction in Sulu.
Senior Supt. Mario Buyuccan, director of the Sulu Provincial Police Office, said they learned about the release of Ibrahim Butong at around 7 p.m. on Monday.
He said his men fetched Butong in Barangay Laum in Maimbing town.
Butong is a teacher at the Jolo National High School. He was kidnapped by armed men in Barangay Bualo Lipid, alsonin Maimbung town on March 4.
In Cebu, authorities nabbed Mansor Manupac Mantawil, alleged leader of a kidnap-for-ransom group operating in Mindanao during a follow-up operation in Lapu-Lapu City.
“He is the leader of the Mantawil kidnapping-for-ransom group operating in Pagadian, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte targeting well-off businessmen,” said Senior Supt. Glenn Dumlao, director of the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG). (With a report from Aaron Recuenco)