Suspected Abu Sayyaf sub-leader escapes military raid

ZAMBOANGA City, Philippines - A suspected member of the Abu Sayyaf Group wanted for a series of kidnapping incidents eluded a joint military and police operation in an island east off the city, a military spokesperson said Saturday.

Capt. Ma. Rowena Muyuela, spokesperson of Armed Forces of the Philippines' Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), identified the elusive suspect as Whid Pingli alias Gafur, a sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group operating in the coastal area of this city.

Pingli is wanted the kidnapping of businessmen Inocente Bautista and Vicente Barrios in 2008 and 2010, respectively. Both victims were subsequently freed after allegedly paying the bandits' ransom demand.

Muyuela said the combined elements of the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO)and the Joint Task Group Zamboanga (JTGZ) launched an operation to capture Pingli who was spotted in his hideout in Landang Laum in Sacol Island about 4:30 a.m. Friday.

She said the bandit leader could have sensed the arriving operatives as he was able to slip out of his supposed hideout.

Security forces recovered a loaded M16A1 assault rifle from Pingli's alleged hideout.