Naval forces nab 5 Abu Sayyaf fighters in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY–Elements of the Naval Forces-Western Mindanao (NFWM) apprehended on Monday night, six armed men believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) off Bolod Island in Banguingui, Sulu.

NFWM Commander Rear Adm. Rene V Medina said that a member of the Special CAFGU Active Auxiliary (SCAA) of NFWM reported that the FB Nancy 888, a commercial fishing vessel owned by Nancy Fishing Company, was being harassed and chased by an unidentified armed group.

Medina identified the six armed men as Omar Amping, 39; Gabby S Juwa, 35; Jadi Luhadi, 21; Alcimel Abdulla, 18; Madi Jalilul, 19 and Sakkam Dekani, 60.

Medina said the armed group was spotted Sunday night onboard two motorized pump boats about 22 nautical miles northeast of Saluping Island in Basilan, which is also known as the Sibarot fishing grounds located between the island provinces of Sulu and Basilan.

Medina said that upon receiving the maritime report he immediately dispatched the Quick Reaction Team (QRT) of Naval Task Force 61.

Onboard BRP Manuel Gomez, a Navy Seal team was immediately inserted into the area to conduct Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) against a hostile contact, Medina said.

They also seized from the group an M16A1 rifle with three long and one short magazine consisting of 110 live ammunitions.

Investigation revealed that Amping is a notorious gun-for-hire killer, and ranked number four in the “Most Wanted List of Personalities” in Zamboanga City with two standing warrant of arrest for five counts of murder.