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| Southeast Asia |
| Pentagon Gang leader busted |
| 2005-09-15 |
| Security forces arrested the alleged leader of a kidnap gang that abducted an Italian missionary and a group of Chinese engineers four years ago in the southern Philippines, the military said Wednesday. Nurham Amill, alias Commander Ramsey, leader of the notorious kidnap group "Pentagon Gang," which is on Washington's list of terrorist organizations, was arrested late Tuesday at a military checkpoint in Leon Postigo town in southern Zamboanga del Norte Province, Army Chief Hermogenes Esperon said. "He is currently undergoing tactical interrogation," said Major General Gabriel Habacon, commander of the Army's 1st Infantry Division, when asked about the suspect's whereabouts. Habacon said the operation against the Pentagon Gang and the Abu Sayyaf are going on in the southern Philippines. "There is an ongoing operation to neutralize kidnappers and terrorists," Habacon said. Lieutenant General Esperon said members of the Army's Special Forces have been pursuing Amil in the past weeks until they tracked him down in Leon Postigo town. "The arrest of Amil is the result of a long surveillance operation. Let this be a warning to other terrorists that there is no escape, they should surrender peacefully," Esperon said. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which is currently negotiating peace with the government, praised the arrest of Amil. "The MILF welcomes the news of Amil's arrest and we hope this would put an end to the series of kidnappings perpetrated by criminals," a rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu said. Amil's group kidnapped four Chinese men, including three who were helping build an irrigation project, and their Filipino guide in June 2001 in North Cotabato province. Four months later, they abducted Italian missionary Giuseppe "Beppe" Pierantoni in Zamboanga del Sur. Two of the Chinese were killed by the kidnappers as they tried to escape during a clash with soldiers in August 2001. Pierantoni was rescued unharmed in April 2002. Amil, a former Muslim separatist guerrilla, carried a P500,000 reward for his arrest. Pierantoni, who is from Bologna in central Italy, belonged to the Sacred Heart of Jesus missionary order. He was seized Oct. 18, 2001 after saying Mass in his parish in Dimataling town, Zamboanga del Sur province. Several Filipino and foreign Catholic priests have been targeted by Muslim extremists and bandits in the southern Philippines, home to the country's Muslim minority. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #2 So when are they gonna arrest the REAL leader of the Pentagon Gang, Don Rumsfeld?!?! /LLL |
| Posted by: Chris W. 2005-09-15 09:25 |
| #1 tactical interrogation lordy, thatum's the worstust kind. |
| Posted by: Omomorong Glasing5794 2005-09-15 01:13 |