Abu Sayyaf holding Sibugay mayor

From the Philippine Star posted to ABS-CBN (Apr 30): Abu Sayyaf holding Sibugay mayor

The mayor of Naga town in Zamboanga Sibugay, whom unidentified gunmen seized at her home on April 6, is now in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu, a military official said yesterday.

Mayor Gemma Adana’s captors have turned her over to the Abu Sayyaf, said Rear Admiral Reynaldo Yoma, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao and Joint Task Force ZambaSulTa.

“We cannot give their exact location as they are constantly on the move,” Yoma said.

Adana was having dinner with her family in Barangay Taytay Manubo when six unidentified gunmen took her and escaped on a motorboat.

Police earlier tagged a renegade faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the kidnapping.

The kidnappers have not contacted Adana’s family. Earlier reports said there was a P100-million ransom demand, but it was denied by an official who is close to the Adanas.

Yoma vowed to recover the remaining captives of the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu. Among them are Dutch birdwatcher Elwold Horn, a Japanese man, a Korean businessman, two teachers and relatives of a town mayor.

“We have continuous operations for the recovery of all the victims and neutralization of the Abu Sayyaf,” he said.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/04/30/15/abu-sayyaf-holding-sibugay-mayor