Long-wanted leader of notorious kidnap-for-ransom group nabbed

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested the leader of a notorious kidnap-for-ransom group after being hunted for over a decade.

NBI-Iligan chief Atty. Alex Cabornay identified the suspect as Alikhan Dimnatang, leader of the Dimnatang KFR group which has been operating in Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City, Marawi City and the two Lanao provinces.

He said Dimnatang has pending warrants of arrests in various courts for murder, frustrated and attempted murder.

Cabornay said the suspect was arrested Sunday night in Bacayu, Iligan City, after ‘‘about 10 hours of blocking maneuvers, cordoning, and stake out’’ by NBI agents, soldiers and policemen.

Records from the NBI showed that the Dimnatang group was responsible for the murders in 2006 of two relatives of Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno in Baloi, Lanao del Norte.

He also said the group was tagged in the abduction of Alirazul Manunggiring last April 27 in Iligan City.

The group demanded a P2 million ransom money but the victim’s family was only able to pay P500,000. The 22-year-old kidnap victim had been released from captivity on April 29.

Cabornay said they received a tip that Dimnatang was spotted in Bacayu over the weekend and this prompted them to stake out in the morning of June 14.

Armed with a warrant of arrest issued by Dasmarinas Cavite Regional Trial Court (RTC) executive judge Perla Cabrera-Faller, the joint operatives of the NBI, AFP, and the PNP swooped down on the house of Dimnatang and arrested the suspect.

The suspect has undergone booking process and had his mugshot taken inside the NBI Iligan headquarters. AU