ZAMBOANGA CITY -- A kidnap-for-ransom group (KFRG) sub-leader was killed Wednesday while resisting arrest in Barangay Mampang this city
Armed Force of the Philippines - Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WestMinCom) Commander Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., said combined elements of the military and the police were serving a warrant of arrest to Samad Awang, a.k.a. Ahmad Jamal, at Sitio Sahaya, Barangay Mampang, in this city at around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday when Awang drew his caliber .45 pistol and fired at the troops.
“With their lives in danger, the apprehending team retaliated which resulted in the instantaneous death of Awang,” Vinluan said.
Recovered from the subject’s possession were one caliber 45 pistol chamber with a magazine loaded with four live ammunition, one extra magazine with seven live ammunition, and two fired cartridges.
Joint Task Force Zamboanga Commander Col. Antonio John Divinagracia said that Awang had a warrant of arrest for violation of Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code (Serious Illegal Detention, Kidnapping, and Hostage-Taking) issued by Judge Josefino Bael, presiding judge of the 9th Judicial region, Regional Trial Court Branch 31 in Imelda, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Col. Divinagracia stated that Awang was listed number 25 on the KFRG wanted list of the Police Regional Office 9.
“He led the kidnapping of Joel Endino last Jan 29, 2011, in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. He was also responsible for the kidnapping of Gean Carlos Bossi in 2007 and Kathy Casipong in 2013,” Divinagracia said.
Combined forces of the PNP’s Anti-Kidnapping Group, Special Action Force, Regional Mobile Force Battalion-9, Police Station-6, and Zamboanga City Police Office; and the AFP’s Joint Task Force Zamboanga and Marine Battalion Landing Team 11 conducted the operation.