Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)— Kidnap for ransom group leader Waning Abdusalam, alias “Waning,” was killed Sunday morning (March 13) during a law enforcement operation launched by the military and police.
In a statement by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command spokesperson Maj. Filemon Tan, the military reported that Waning resisted arrest by a combined force of AFP and Philippine National Police (PNP) troops in Barangay Singkilon, Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay.
According to PNP Region Nine Director Chief Superintendent Miguel Antonio, authorities had planned for Waning’s capture for over a year now.
Antonio said “when the joint PNP and AFP personnel have found a chance to capture the notorious kidnapper this morning,” they immediately acted on it. “But the suspect resisted the arrest which prompted to a firefight.”
Waning is said to be responsible for a series of kidnappings in Zamboanga Sibugay over the past several years.
According to the AFP, Waning was involved in the abduction of 12 victims, including that of three teachers in Zamboanga Sibugay in 2009. He is also said to have kidnapped a priest in Pagadian, and Australian national Warren Rodwell in Ipil in 2011.
The police also said they are looking into Waning’s possible involvement into the kidnapping of Naga Mayor Gemma Adana in her house last year. Kidnappers released Adana in October 2015.
Waning was a former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commander who was later on disowned by the group. He subsequently gained notoriety as a an alleged kidnap-for-ransom group leader and was tagged as a wanted bandit in the Zamboanga peninsula.
CNN Philippines’ senior correspondent David Santos and correspondent Gerg Cahiles contributed to this report.
