Two alleged gang members killed in Zamboanga del Sur: police

April 20, 2018

Two alleged members of a criminal group were killed while two others were arrested in a law enforcement operation in Zamboanga del Sur on Friday morning, a regional police spokesperson said.

Chief Insp. Helen Galvez said government forces were conducting law enforcement operation against the notorious Anwar Ansang Criminal Group when the encounter happened at Sitio Balaisan, Barangay East Migpulao, Dinas municipality around 7:10 am.

She said the two dead criminal group members were the most wanted persons in their place but only one has a warrant of arrest for murder.

Galvez identified the fatalities as Moamar Ansang Fermin, 36, number seven most wanted person at the province of Zamboanga del Sur and Suad Abang Esmael, 32, number two most wanted person at the municipality of Dinas.

“The standing warrant of arrest of Moamar Ansang Fermin are: murder with multiple frustrated murder docketed under Criminal Case Nr. 17-158, murder with multiple frustrated murder docketed under Criminal Case Nr. 12-086, four counts murder docketed under Criminal Case Nr. 13-016 to 019, attempted murder and attempted murder docketed under Criminal Case Nr. 13-020 to 021 and murder docketed under Criminal Case,” she said.

Galvez said the arrested criminal group members were Hadad Giapal Nanding, 23, and Mahadam Yunos Giapal, 28, both resident of Purok 5, Sitio Balaisan, Barangay East Migpulao.

She said government forces also recovered war materials from the killed and arrested members of the criminal group.

Galvez said seized from Fermin were one Colt M16 rifle, one long M16 magazine, four spent/empty 5.56 shells, five round of 5.56 ammunition and one Nokia cellular phone.

A carbine rifle, one long magazine, two short magazines, 51 ammunition, and one Nokia cellular phone were recovered from Esmael and one .45 caliber Armscor pistol, one short magazine, one ammunition and one holster were confiscated from the other suspects.

Galvez said “the Dinas Municipal Police Station (MPS) coordinated with Provincial Crime Lab Office in order to conduct Scene of Crime Operation.”

The two suspects who were arrested during the operation are under the custody of the Dinas police station,  she said. Robina Asido/DMS