Pentagon man surrenders to NBI

A member of the Pentagon kidnap for ransom gang has surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), vowing to help the government identify and prosecute key members of the group in exchange for protection against possible reprisals.

Rucman Alex Sultan used to be a follower of the late Pentagon boss Faizal Marohombsar, who was killed in a shootout in Cavite several days after he escaped from detention at Camp Crame early this year.

After his death, Marohombsar’s right-hand man, Macaumbao Marahom, assumed the position of gang leader. But since Marahom took over, the group has not participated in any kidnapping or robbery.

Sultan, who surrendered to NBI agents last Aug. 28, was presented to the media yesterday at the bureau’s headquarters in Manila by NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco, other bureau officials and State Prosecutor Peter Ong.

"Two of my relatives were killed by other Pentagon members last July and for sure I’ll be next, so I decided to seek the help of the NBI to protect me," Sultan said.

Marohombsar and his men, including Sultan had been charged before the Manila Regional Trial Court for the kidnapping of businessman Enrico Pelaez in Lanao del Sur almost three years ago.

Pelaez, who himself was present at yesterday’s press conference, told Wycoco and Ong that it was Sultan, who helped him escaped from the Pentagon gang on Jan. 13, 2001, after 51 days of captivity.

"When Sultan gave me instructions on how to escape, he also gave me a gun. But when the gun jammed, Sultan gave me his own gun," Pelaez recalled.

In escaping, Pelaez and Sultan took advantage of a 20-minute firefight between Pentagon members and another kidnap gang.

Until his escape, Pelaez maintained that he never paid any ransom to the gang, which initially demanded P100 million for his release.

Sultan was arrested and placed under police custody but escaped in September 2001.

Ong said he has filed motion before the office of Manila Judge Lucia Purugganan of Regional Trial Court Branch 54 to make Sultan a state witness against the kidnappers.

"Considering what he did for Mr. Pelaez, Sultan can be a state witness and help the government in prosecuting the kidnappers," Ong explained.

Apart from Sultan and Marohombsar, those charged for Pelaez’s abduction were Ismael Marohombsar, Cairoden Marohombsar, Mohammed Acdan, Rakman Abby and Isidoro Balcita, a former employee of Pelaez believed to have helped planned the abduction.

Only Ismael, Abby and Balcita are under the police custody while Achmad died earlier this year.