Top Kidnapper Nabbed in Zamboanga Sibugay

By Masiding Noor Yahya

September 26, 2019

MARAWI CITY: The third highest ranking member of the Abu Sayyaf Kidnapper Group was arrested Wednesday afternoon by the joint Army’s 44th Infantry Battalion and Philippine national Police (PNP) PNP operation in Barangay (Village) Canacan, Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay province, military said. 

Wanted ASG Nasirin Balajadji was apprehended by virtue of a warrant of arrest for the crime of kidnapping for ransom with no bail recommended. 

Lt. Col. Don Templonuevo, 44th Battalion commander, said, "Nasirin Balajadj was involved in the kidnapping of Baker Atyani, a Jordanian Journalist, in the year 2012.”

According to Police Col. Jerry Protacio, PNP Provincial Director, “He was also involved in the abduction of Roland Del Torchio, an Italian retired Catholic priest and the kidnapping of Rexon Romoc, an eight-year old boy who was held captive by the group for seven months in the year 2016”. 

The arrested kidnapper is in the custody of PNP for proper disposition and filling of case. 

Meanwhile, Col. Leonel Nicolas., 102nd Infantry Brigade Commander, who has operational jurisdiction of Zamboanga Sibugay said that, “The arrest was attributed to the report of a peace-loving and concerned civilian in our area of responsibility”. 

For his part, Maj. Gen. Roberto Ancan, the 1st Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Zampelan (Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao Provinces) commander, commended the efforts of the troops, the concerned civilian. 

“The arrest of the top kidnapper is a significant accomplishment for the peace-loving constituents of our area of responsibility,” said Ancan. 

“With our relentless collaboration with PNP, rest assured that we will continuously neutralize, defeat or destroy threat groups to sustain the gains of peace in Western Mindanao”, Ancan concluded. (WIth Tabak-DPAO)