ASG brigands release Zambo Sibugay town mayor

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 13): ASG brigands release Zambo Sibugay town mayor

The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) brigands have released the lady town mayor they seized more than six months ago in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, the military announced Tuesday.

Maj. Antonio Bulao, Joint Task Group Sulu information officer, disclosed the town official was released around 6:50 a.m. Tuesday in the town of Indanan.

Released was Mayor Gemma Adana of Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Bulao said Adana was brought to the residence of Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan II by the Indanan town officials and religious leaders following her release.

Bulao said the ASG brigands released Adana due to intense pressure brought about by the relentless military offensive against them in the hinterlands of Sulu.

“The group believed that be releasing any of the KVs (kidnap victims), military pressure will ease a little,” Bulao said.

The ASG brigands are believed to be still holding some 10 hostages, including foreigners, kidnapped in the different parts of Mindanao.

The Joint Task Group Sulu has launched focus military operations (FMO) against the ASG brigands with the senior leaders and their foreign cohorts as the main targets.

Bulao said Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, Joint Task Group Sulu commander, has sent a medical platoon to fetch Adana from the residence of Tan to the Camp Bautista Trauma Hospital for medical check-up to be followed by debriefing.

Bulao said Adana will be brought to her residence via this city after the debriefing.

Adana was seized by gunmen from her residence in the evening of April 6 in Barangay Taytay Manubo, Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=814457