ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police arrested two suspected criminal gang members tagged as most wanted persons in Sirawai and Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte during a law enforcement operation in Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte on Friday, Oct. 21.
A Police Regional Office-9 report identified the suspects as Anderson Hassan, 67, and Mahajine Baysa Baterol, 54, the third and fourth most wanted persons in Zamboanga Peninsula, respectively.
Anderson a farmer, was arrested for murder while Baterol was nabbed for four counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
Hassan was identified as the leader of the defunct Hassan Criminal Gang operating in the Sirawai-Siocon area.
He was reportedly involved in illegal logging, extortion, and kidnapping activities in cahoots with other criminal gangs in the area.
The suspects were placed under the custody of the Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Office prior to turnover to the court.