PAGADIAN CITY – Police forces have killed Sunday a former rebel commander linked to the kidnappings of foreigners in the southern Philippines, officials said.
Policemen were trying to serve a warrant for the arrest of Waning Abdulsalam - who was a former leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front - when he attacked them with an automatic weapon, sparking a firefight in the village of Singkilon in the town of Naga in Zamboanga Sibugay province.
Police said it tracked down Abdulsalam following a long intelligence operation.
Abdulsalam was one of the most wanted criminals in southern Philippines. And he was believed connected also to the Abu Sayyaf, which is holding several kidnapped foreigners in the region.
He was linked to the kidnappings of Irish missionary Michael Sinnott in October 12, 2009 in Pagadian City, Italian Catholic priest Giancarlo Bossi in Zamboanga del Sur’s Payao town in June 10, 2007 and also of German adventurer Warren Rodwell in December 2011.
It was unknown whether Abdulsalam was also behind the 1998 kidnappings of Italian missioners Luciano Benedetti in Zamboanga del Norte province and Giuseppe Pierantoni in Dimataling town in Zamboanga del Sur.
In 2012, security forces also raided Abdulsalam’s hideout in Naga and captured three of his followers following a clash in the village of Mamagon. (E. Dumaboc)
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