CAMP ROMEO ABENDAN, Zamboanga City – Three top field commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), long wanted for the 2004 bloody attack on Siocon town, Zamboanga del Norte, were apprehended by police onboard a passenger bus recently in barangay Mercedes, this city.
Philippines National Police director for Zamboanga Peninsula Chief Supt. Prospero Noble identified the three captured rebel leaders as Mamarin Pilay alias "Commander Panjang", Jairols Hassan Maing alias "Commander Hassan", and Abdulkahal Abundol alias "Commander Abundol".
Noble said Abundol and Maing each carried a R400,000 on their head while Pilay, who was also implicated in the 2001 gunslaying of the vice mayor of nearby Sirawi town, carried a bounty of R240,000.
A police report received by Noble said Pilay, Maing and Abundol have pending warrants of arrest issued by the Siocon Municipal Court for leading the dawn attack on May 4, 2004, on the progressive coastal municipality.
The raid resulted in the killing of seven policemen and six civilians and the wounding of some 25 others as well as the burning of a portion of the town hall.
According to Noble, elements of the PNP 9th Regional Mobile Group, which earlier received a tip from a concerned caller, arrested the three rebel commanders onboard a Lizamay Express on a national highway in the outskirts of barangay Mercedes some 20 kilometers northeast of Zamboanga City.
The three MILF leaders claimed they were bound for Tungawan town, Zamboanga Sibugay for a mission, Noble said, adding that the apprhended rebels are now undergoing interrogation. (Tony Pe. Rimando)
