SMUGGLED CIGARETTES. Police and Bureau of Customs personnel arrest three suspects and seize more than P1.3 million worth of smuggled cigarettes near Manalipa Island, Zamboanga City, on Tuesday evening (Feb. 28, 2023). The smuggled cigarettes came from Jolo, Sulu, and were bound for Cotabato City when seized by the authorities. (Photo courtesy of 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company) ZAMBOANGA CITY - Authorities have arrested three suspects and seized more than PHP1.3 million worth of smuggled cigarettes near an island village in this city, a top police official said Wednesday. Col. Alexander Lorenzo, city police director, said police arrested Bas Sikan Mohammad, 42, the motorboat skipper, and his two assistants and confiscated the illicit goods Tuesday evening near the Manalipa island. He said the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company and Bureau of Customs personnel launched a seaborne patrol after receiving a tip from an informant and chanced upon the motorboat named "Maira.
ZAMBOANGA CITY - A member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) involved in a spate of bombings and kidnappings here and in Basilan province surrendered to government authorities following an intelligence-driven operation, a top police official said Wednesday. Col. Alexander Lorenzo, Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) director, identified the ASG surrenderer as Mursidin Husin, 39, a follower of Zamboanga-based ASG sub-leader Jamiul Nasalun. Lorenzo said Husin surrendered and turned over a caliber .38 revolver with seven bullets around 11 a.m. at Camp General Eduardo Batalla. Husin was involved in the bombing of a cafeteria in Barangay Sangali that killed one person and injured four others in October 2011, Lorenzo said. He was also implicated in two other bombings-Isabela City, Basilan, and the 2013 bus bombing in this city, the police official added. Husin is a suspect in two kidnapping incidents-Jan. 23, 2009 kidnapping of three public school teachers in Sacol Island and Dec. 14, 2010 kidnap