Close cooperation between military, police results in successful recovery of 60-year-old ASG captive

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 21): Close cooperation between military, police results in successful recovery of 60-year-old ASG captive

Close cooperation between the military and police resulted in the successful recovery of 60-year-old Martina Lynn Yee from the clutches of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu Wednesday.

This was reported by Joint Task Force Sulu spokesperson Col. Rodrigo Gregorio in a statement to the Philippines News Agency on Wednesday.

Yee, a resident of Sirawai, Zamboanga Del Norte and gas station owner, was abducted 3:00 p.m. Monday.

Gregorio said the victim was recovered in a pier in Tanjung, Barangay Kajatian, Indanan, Sulu.

"The successful rescue operation was a result of continuous collaboration with different units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police with the help of civilian populace from Sirawai to Sibuco and Zamboanga City to Sulu who informed and alerted troops on the presence of armed men," he added.

A strike-and-rescue operation was done by troops of 35th Infantry Battalion which made the terrorists scamper, resulting in the rescue of the victim.

Several victims have been rescued and released following the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to intensify rescue efforts to recover the remaining hostages.

"The successful rescue is a template of enhanced collaboration of all govt agencies concerned with the help of local residents," Joint Task Force Sulu commander Brig. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega said.

"We hope to see more collaboration from different stakeholders in the coming days to destroy the ASG and rescue the remaining hostages," he added.

Yee is now undergoing medical check-up and debriefing at the Camp Bautista Station Hospital in Jolo.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=924819