1 of 6 suspects in farmer’s kidnapping arrested in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY—One of at least six suspects in the kidnapping of a farmer in the town of Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte province was arrested on Tuesday (Oct. 28) here, according to the military.

Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., head of the Western Mindanao Command, confirmed the arrest of Anerson Manambahi Tungayao, aka Ganison, a member of local crime group with links to the Sulu-based terror group Abu Sayyaf.

Vinluan said Tungayao was positively identified by Rex Triplitt as one of his captors.

Tungayao was arrested by soldiers and policemen at the coastal village of Arena Blanco here.

Seized from Tungayao was an M-16 assault rifle and one short magazine loaded with ammunition.

Tungayao is a resident of Tapanayan village of Sirawai, where Triplitt, earlier reported erroneously as an American citizen, had been taken captive last Sept. 16.

The suspect was brought to the headquarters of the police’s anti-kidnapping group in Camp Batalla here.

Vinluan said Tungayao has links to Abu Sayyaf leader Injam Yadah.

Authorities are still hunting down five more suspects involved in the kidnapping.

TSB