AMBUSH SUSPECT. The mugshot of Bakrin Sakinal, a member of the Labian crime group, who is a suspect in the ambush-slay of a town mayor in Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay in 2015. Sakinal was arrested on Thursday (July 1, 2021) in a warrant of arrest operation in Barangay Pangian, Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte. (Photo courtesy of the Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Police Office)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Government operatives have arrested a crime group member believed to be involved in the 2015 ambush-slay of a town mayor in nearby Zamboanga Sibugay province, a top police official announced Friday.
Col. Albert Larubis, Zamboanga Sibugay Police director, identified the suspect as Bakrin Sakinal, 46, a member of the Labian crime group, which is operating in that province.
Larubis said Sakinal was arrested in a warrant of arrest operation in Barangay Pangian, Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte at about 7 p.m. on Thursday.
He said Sakinal is listed as the No. 3 most wanted person in the town of Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay and has standing warrants of arrest for murder, three counts of frustrated murder, and eight counts of attempted murder issued by the court of that province.
Sakinal, he added, was allegedly involved in the ambush-slay of Tungawan Mayor Randy Climaco in Purok 7, Barangay Cayamcam on Oct. 12, 2015.
Climaco, who was on his last term of office, had just filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for vice mayor in the 2016 elections when he was ambushed.
The attack also wounded Climaco’s six companions – a cousin who filed his COC for mayor, the vice mayor, a barangay official, a driver, a security escort, and Climaco’s party mate.
On Oct. 27, 2018, the police arrested one of Sakinal’s cohorts in Sitio Flamingo in Barangay Malagutay, this city. (PNA)
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