Pentagon leader a wanted man

Police posted the picture of Pentagon kidnap leader Tahir Alonto in police stations all over central and western Mindanao, southern Philippines, said Philippine National Police (PNP Chief Leandro Mendoza.

"He is the leader of the Pentagon kidnap syndicate, which is behind the abduction of several foreigners in central Mindanao. We want to hasten his arrest," said Mendoza, adding that police want ordinary citizens to be aware of how Alonto looks like.

The picture describes Alonto as medium-built, about 1.48 metre tall and believed to be hiding somewhere in Liguasan Marsh in Maguindanao.

Alonto carries a $ 20,000 (P1-million) reward for his arrest. He is also known as Conto Alonto, Commander Ronnie and Kuya (Big brother) Allan.

The group is also believed to be behind the continued captivity of South Korean Jae Kwoon-Yoon, seized in Sarangani Province on February 6 this year. He remained in Pentagon's custody.

In October 17 last year, the kidnap gang seized Italian priest Giuseppe Pierrantoni in Dimataling, Zamboanga del Sur and released him reportedly after ransom was paid on April 8, 2002 in Zamboanga de Sibugay province.

The Pentagon first gained international notoriety when it abducted five Chinese nationals in June and August 2001 in Cotabato. Subsequent rescue operations resulted in the death of two Chinese kidnap victims.

The spate of kidnappings of foreigners by the Pentagon prompted the United States to place the group under its terrorist exclusion list.

Since 1990, Alonto has been engaging in kidnapping and other illegal activities in central Mind-anao along with Mayangkang Saguille, also known as Commander Black Moro who still remains at large.