Kidnap gang leader falls in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA City, Philippines - Security forces have arrested a  kidnap-for-ransom group leader tagged in the kidnapping of a town mayor in April last year.

Senior Superintendent Roy Bahian, Zamboanga Sibugay police provincial director, identified the suspect as Sahar Muloc alias Commander Red Eye, a native of Barangay Mucas, Salug town, Zamboanga del Norte.

Bahian said Muloc is behind the kidnapping of Mayor Jeffrey Lim Salug town, Zamboanga del Norte, and two local businessmen and a son of a barangay chairman in the province on Apr. 2, 2012.

The kidnappers released the victims on November of the same year.

Bahian said that police and military intelligence operatives arrested Muloc at the Pasalubong Center in Barangay Poblacion, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay on Wednesday at around 12:35 p.m.

“The arrested suspect was involved in the kidnapping of Mayor Lim and three other victims they separately abducted last year,” Bahian said.

He said they are also checking if Muloc's group was also involved in the kidnapping of Autralian Warren Rodwell in Dec. 11, 2011.

Rodwell was released only last March in Basilan following the payment of P4 million.