Abus now holding 2 PCG men, village chief as captives

From the Daily Tribune (Jun 27): Abus now holding 2 PCG men, village chief as captives

An Abu Sayyaf band is now holding the two Coast Guard personnel and a barangay chairman as captives on the outskirts of Sulu province.

A security official said that the ASG band of Al Habsy Misaya are now keeping SM2 Gringo Villaruz, SM1 Allan Pagaling and Robert Bulagao as hostages in Sulu.

“They are now with the group of Al Habsy Misaya…they highly mobile, moving from one place to another,” the official said.

Misaya’s stronghold is in Mt. Taran, Indanan in Sulu.

Misaya’s group was tagged in the 2014 abduction of a Chinese and Filipino from Sabah.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is mum on a video of the three — blindfolded and kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs and pleading for help, circulated recently.

“I ordered it (video) checked…I think it should be the Coast Guard who should confirm if they are indeed their personnel who were captured,” said AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr.

The victims were abducted by armed men last May 4 in Barangay Aliguay, Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte.

Cmdr. Armand Balilo, spokesman of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), said that the kidnappers initially demanded P100-million ransom for the freedom of the three hostages.

Balilio said that the last demand was at P3 million.

He, however, stressed the government’s no-ransom policy.

Balilo said that the PCG is doing everything for the safe rescue of the two PCG personnel and the local official.

The PCG spokesman said that they are in close coordination with the AFP and the Philippine National Police in addressing the abduction.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/abus-now-holding-2-pcg-men-village-chief-as-captives