..ZAMBOANGA CITY -- A kidnap-for-ransom-group leader who carries a P200,000 reward for his capture was killed in a clash in an island east off Zamboanga City, a top police official said Monday.
Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula Director Napoleon Estilles identified the slain leader as Wahid Pingli, alias Guru, who is facing charges for kidnapping with serious illegal detention.
Estilles said the authorities were about to issue a warrant of arrest against Pingli when a firefight ensued after the kidnappers opened fire.
The clash took place around 12:15 p.m. Sunday at sitio Tambak in Landang Laum village, 33 kilometers east of the city. The 15 minutes firefight resulted in Pingli’s death while his companions fled to different directions, Estilles said.
Pingli was tagged in the abduction of three Zamboanga City teachers on January 23, 2009; a businessman from Zamboanga City on January 8, 2009; three teachers from Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay on March 13, 2009; and two American nationals – mother and son – and a Filipino relative on July 19, 2011 in Tigtabon Island, Zamboanga City.
Aside from kidnappings, the group of Pingli is also involved in the trade of prohibited drugs, extortion and harassments.
Estilles said Pingli is the brother of Ismael Pingli alias Taggo, who is a member of the third section of the 114th Base Command of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front based in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan province. (Sunnex)
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