A Korean was abducted in a Zamboanga Sibugay town on Saturday night by a group that may have links to the Abu Sayyaf Group.
Capt. Vivar Crisostomo, civil military operations officer of the 102nd Brigade, said on Sunday that Noui Hong Sung, 73, was taken from his home in Barangay Mabuhay in R.T. Lim town at around 9:30 p.m.
“There were five suspects, all armed. They (suspects) came in aboard a mini-van,” the captian said.
Crisostomo said authorities have yet to identify suspects in the abduction, adding there are several “lawless groups” operating in the province, including the Abu Sayyaf.
He said the military and the Philippine National Police are working together to find out where the Korean was taken.
In the meantime, he said, authorities expect the kidnappers to contact the victim's family for ransom negotiations.
A source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the group may have links with the Abu Sayyaf.
“There are groups that have ties with the Abu Sayyaf. Kidnapping has become a business enterprise here. A group would kidnap a victim and then turn him or her over to the Abu Sayyaf for a fee,” he said, adding kidnap victims are sometimes brought to Basilan, where Abu Sayyaf presence is strong.
“There are lawless groups here that have links with the Abu Sayyaf…We are seeing the involvement of the Abu Sayyaf here,” the source said.
Government operations against the Abu Sayyaf, which is holding foreign and Filipino hostages in Sulu, were ramped up last year.
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