ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (AFP) - Police shot dead a Muslim
guerrilla who was allegedly behind the kidnapping of two Americans in
the southern Philippines, officials said on Monday, June 18.
Police commandos killed Wahid Pingli in a raid Sunday, June 17, on
his home on Sacol island, off the coast of Zamboanga City, said regional
commander Chief Superintendent Napoleon Estilles.
He allegedly abducted American Gerfa Yeatts Lunsmann and her
14-year-old son Kevin as well as a teenage Filipino nephew while they
were vacationing in the troubled south in July.
"Wahid's group are also said to be responsible for extortion
activities, harassment and kidnapping of prominent families and teachers
in this city," Estilles told reporters.
The mother and the Filipino relative were freed unharmed in October
while Kevin Lunsmann walked free in December amid suspicions that ransom
was paid.
Documents found in the raid showed that Pingli was a member of the
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a Muslim separatist group that is
engaged in peace talks with the government, Estilles said.
An assault rifle, a grenade launcher and bullets were also recovered, the police commander added.
MILF spokesman Von al-Haq confirmed that Pingli was a member but denied that he was involved in kidnappings.
"He is innocent and we are still confirming the veracity of the reports against our slain comrade," he told AFP.
The MILF will file a protest with the government over the killing
which violated the ceasefire agreement between the two sides, he added.
The MILF waged a rebellion for more than three decades, originally
for the establishment of an independent state in Mindanao, the southern
third of the mainly Catholic Philippines.
In recent years it has dropped its independence demand and signed a
ceasefire with Manila in order to negotiate for autonomous control over
large areas of Mindanao.
However many Muslim extremists have turned to kidnapping for ransom to raise money, often targeting foreigners.
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Agence France-Presse | June 18, 2012 | Article Link
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