Zamboanga Peninsula’s ‘most dangerous’ arrested
ZAMBOANGA CITY – A notorious drug dealer in Zamboanga Peninsula, who has also been accused of killing 21 people in Pagadian City, was arrested last week during an operation in Cotabato City.
Police Regional Office-9 spokesperson Chief Insp. Helen Galvez identified the suspect as Tukan Guinale with aliases Tucan Pagayao, Asmaudin Manupac Balatucal, Tukan Giale, Tuks, Master, Salik, Salek, Abs.
Guinale was arrested, Monday during a law enforcement operation along Bonifacio Street, Barangay Poblacion, Matalam, Cotabato City at 7 a.m. Monday.
The suspect was arrested by combined operatives of the Police Intelligence BranchCotabato PPO, Kabacan Municipal Police Station, Matalam Municipal Police Station and the Provincial Intelligence Branch of Zamboanga del Sur PPO.
Guinale was tagged in a number of criminal activities such as murder, illegal drug trading, extortion, gun-for-hire and piracy.
These landed him on the fourth spot of the PNP’s Most Wanted list on the regional level and went on to be considered the most wanted person in the region by the Regional Intelligence Division of PRO-9.
The suspect was identified as the leader of the former Tukan crime group involved in gun-for-hire and illegal drug trading in Zamboanga del Sur and Lanao provinces, and a member of the Afdal, Nandang and Malaco drug groups operating in Zamboanga del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Metro Manila.
Guinale also led the jailbreak at the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Jail in Pagadian in February, 2011 where he, together with seven other detainees, killed two persons and injured another.
He has also been accused of killing 21 people in Pagadian City alone from his gunfor-hire activities. His victims’ relatives, however, refused to file charges for fear of retaliation from his criminal gang.
Guinale was also involved in sea piracy, gun-for-hire and extortion activities victimizing businessmen and small scale fisherfolks in Dumanquillas, Maligay and Yllana bays.