Leader of Pentagon gang dead–military

Cotabato City—A leader of a notorious kidnap for ransom gang listed as a terrorist organization by the United States has died of a lingering illness, the military said here on Saturday.

Tahir Alonto, one of the founders of the Pentagon kidnap for ransom gang, died on Saturday, Lt. Col. Leopoldo Galon, Eastern Mindanao Command spokesperson, said.

Citing a report from the 6th Infantry Division, Galon said Alonto died at 3 a.m. in his hideout in Barangay Langgapanen, Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao.

“Tahir Alonto died of sickness and complications caused by his diabetes,” Galon said. He did not give other details.

Galon said Alonto’s body was brought to Barangay Balongis, Pagalungan, Maguindanao, where it was buried late Saturday.

Alonto was arrested in 1999 by elements of the 601st Infantry Brigade under Col. Jose Lorenzana in General Santos City and detained in the city jail.

In mid-2000, Alonto’s followers conducted a daring rescue by blasting a hole in the jail and spiriting him out along with some followers, Galon said.

The manhunt then for Alonto resulted in a major military offensive on Liguasan Marsh but the gang leader proved to be elusive.

The Pentagon gang, which also operated in the Lanao provinces and the Zamboanga peninsula, shot to notoriety with its preference for abducting foreign missionaries. Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao