Suspected ASG men seize two teachers of charity organization in Basilan

From InterAksyon (Sep 5): Suspected ASG men seize two teachers of charity organization in Basilan

Two teachers of a foundation helping poor children in Sitio Pangasaan, Barangay Tairan, Lantawan, Basilan, are the latest victims of the Abu Sayyaf's kidnapping operations.

Col. Carlito Galvez, commander of the 104th Infantry Brigade based in Basilan City, said  victims Frederick Banot and Cherden Masong were abducted at around 8 p.m.   Wednesday by armed men believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

They were seized from their boarding house and taken in a speedboat that fled southwest.

The two are teachers and members of Charity Children Foundation, a Catholic nongovernment organization doing missionary work for the Badjao and Yakan children in Basilan Province, Galvez said.

Galvez deployed the 14th Special Forces Company to conduct seaborne checkpoint in the municipal waters off Maluso, Basilan Province. Intelligence units were also dispatched to monitor the coastal areas of Lantawan, Maluso and Hadji Muhtamad Municipalities, all in Basilan province, for possible enemy hideouts.

The military is coordinating with  leaders of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and local government officials of Maluso and its adjacent municipalities for possible identification and location of the group, he said.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/70125/suspected-asg-men-seize-two-teachers-of-charity-organization-in-basilan