Suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits seize couple in Sulu

From InterAksyon (Feb 15): Suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits seize couple in Sulu

Six armed men believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) have seized Sunday morning a couple, who are government employees, just when they were about to enter their house in Barangay San Raymundo, Jolo, Sulu.

Capt. Ryan Lacuesta, civil relations officer of the 2nd Marine Brigade, said the couple identified as Bonifacio and Claire Salinas were forcibly taken at gunpoint to a waiting Tamaraw jeep at bout 5:30 a.m.

“The Salinas couple was working with the Jolo Water District. They arrived at 4:30 a.m. from Zamboanga City via M/V Danica Joy vessel. They hired a tricycle going to their residence located at 10th Street when seized by at least 6 unidentified armed men,” Lacuesta said.

The abductors with their two victims sped towards Barangay Anuling in Patikul town.

“The Marines and police in coordination with concerned government units are conducting pursuit operations to locate and rescue the victims,” Lacuesta said.

Meanwhile, Brigade commander Colonel Jose Johriel Cenabre said the ASG was resorting to abduction of civilians and possibly bombings to divert the attention of the military and police from their intensified operations against them.

Since February 8, almost a dozen bandits, a couple of soldiers, and scores have been wounded from the ongoing military offensive against the Abu Sayyaf.

With the addition of the Salinas couple, the Abu Sayyaf has now more than a dozen kidnap victims.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/80848/suspected-abu-sayyaf-bandits-seize-couple-in-sulu