ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanews/23 June) – Police rescued from a passing pick-up vehicle two persons who were handcuffed and blindfolded and arrested six suspects, including two women, at a checkpoint along Barangay Cawit here.
Rescued at around 2:30 a.m. on Friday were Khomieni Laja and Ronald Tomy, 30, Senior Insp. Edilberto Alvarez, chief of the Police Station 9, said.
Alvarez said police personnel manning a mobile checkpoint intercepted the pick-up vehicle.
Arrested were Fidal Hawari, 29, Sanimar Maluddin, 32, Mus Haris, 37, Mihajo Arabani, 45, Angelica Bolante, 18, and Rachel Herman, 34.
Three high-powered firearms — an Uzi machine pistol, an AK-47 rifle and a caliber .
40 pistol–and ammunition and an ice pick were confiscated from the suspects, he said.
Alvarez said Laja informed them he was the target for execution by the suspects and that his friend, Tomy, was just caught in the middle of a dispute.
Police said Laja was targeted for execution due to a conflict with one on the suspects over a woman.
Alvarez said Tomy merely accompanied Laja when the latter was instructed to proceed to the suspects’ house in Barangay San Jose Gusu.
Laja told the police that were immediately mauled, handcuffed and blindfolded when they arrived at the suspects’ house.
Alvarez said the suspects were presented for inquest proceedings Saturday before the City Prosecutor’s Office. (MindaNews)
