Freed 3-year-old boy arrives in Zamboanga City, reunites with family

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 8): Freed 3-year-old boy arrives in Zamboanga City, reunites with family

The newly-freed three-year-old boy has reunited with his family early Monday at a military headquarters in this city.

The boy, Ace Jay Garban, was brought to this city by troops of the Jolo Internal Defense Force (JIDF) headed by Col. Bernardino Sun.

They arrived here early Monday aboard a commercial ferry from Jolo, Sulu and proceeded to Camp Gen. Arturo Enrile in Barangay Malagutay that houses the Joint Task Force Zambasulta headquarters in this city.

The boy was received by his father, who traveled all the way from Pitogo, Zamboanga del Sur.

The name of the father, who is a barangay official, was withheld for security reasons.

Fatima Caminan, protective services unit head of the Department of Social Welfare Office (DSWDO) regional office, said the boy has to undergo psycho-social intervention as he has been traumatized.

Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, Joint Task Group Sulu (JTGS) commander, said Garban had undergone medical check-up at Camp Bautista Trauma Hospital in Jolo before the latter was brought to this city.

“He (Garban) was cleared from any physical injuries, however, he was observed to have been traumatized in his captivity,” Arrojado said.

Garban was recovered by a concerned citizen around 2:42 p.m. Sunday after he was spotted “without a companion” in Barangay Buanza, Indanan, Sulu.

“Immediately, the concerned citizen approached the child and at the same time informed the military unit of the KV’s (kidnap victim’s) presence in the area,” said Arrojado, who is also the Army’s 501st Infantry Brigade commander.

He said Garban was taken to Barangay Tulay, Jolo, and was turned over to Sun, who is also the deputy commander of the Army’s 501st Infantry Brigade.

Garban was seized by 10 Abu Sayyaf gunmen together with his two-year-old brother, Zynielle Jay, and bakery worker Ledegie Tomarong, 17, on March 31, 2015 in Barangay Poblacion, Pitogo, Zamboanga del Sur.

The gunmen killed Zynielle Jay, whose body was plucked from the seawater of Zamboanga del Sur on April 3, 2015 while Tomarong was released on July 20, 2015 in Barangay Kagay, Indanan, Sulu.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=854903