Philippine Navy apprehends one notorious killer and 5 armed men in Sulu waters

  

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (November 23, 2017) – The Philippine Navy through the Naval Forces Western Mindanao apprehended six armed men believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf Group/ Kidnap for Ransom Group (ASG/KFRG) in the vicinity off Bolod Island, Tonquil, Sulu on Monday, 8:32pm (Nov. 20), military official said.

Information officer Rear Admiral Rene V. Medina AFP, Commander, Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) disclosed that a Special CAFGU Active Auxilliary (SCAA) member of NFWM reported that the FB Nancy 888, a commercial fishing vessel under Nancy Fishing Company was being harassed and chased by an unidentified armed group in the evening of Nov. 19. Allegedly, the said armed group were onboard two motorized pump boats steaming at the vicinity 22 nautical miles Northeast off Saluping Island in Basilan also known as Sibarot fishing grounds located between the island province of Sulu and Basilan.

Subsequently, the Commander of Naval Forces Western Mindanao made necessary actions to address the said maritime concern.  CNFWM immediately responded by activating NTG 61.1, the Quick Reaction Team (QRT) of Naval Task Force 61. Upon its activation BRP Manuel Gomez (PC 388) and one Navy Seal team was immediately deployed in the area to conduct Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) against a hostile contact.

Through the immediate reaction of NTG 61.1 and SCAA, the said armed group was apprehended and subsequently transported to Headquarters NFWM at Zamboanga City for proper disposition.

RADM Medina said that the six (6) armed men apprehended were later identified as Omar Amping, 39; Gabby S Juwa, 35; Jadi Luhadi, 21; Alcimel Abdulla, 18; Madi Jalilul, 19 and Sakkam Dekani, 60. Also, one M16A1 rifle with three long and one short magazine consisting of 110 live ammunition were recovered from the bandits.

Upon arrival to HNFWM the group was given medical check-ups at a military hospital and underwent interrogation by a combined police and military team. Further investigation revealed that Omar Amping is a notorious killer (gun-for-hire) and ranked number Four in the “Most Wanted List of Personalities” in Zamboanga City with two standing warrant of arrest for five counts of Murder.

Further, these arrested men were later turned over to Zamboanga City Police Office for custody and filling of appropriate charges.

The apprehension of this notorious killer, Omar Amping and five others was due to the cooperation with our stakeholders and commitment of the Philippine Navy particularly the Naval Forces Western Mindanao in maintaining maritime security in the Western Mindanao area. Rest assured that your Navy will continue to conduct maritime patrols in its area of responsibility to further prevent and put an end to piracy and terrorism related acts brought about by these lawless terrorists groups in the country.