The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Western Mindanao said on Monday that it has been utilizing its full capabilities to rescue a British man and his wife who were kidnapped in Zamboanga del Sur two weeks ago.
Allan Hyrons and his Filipino wife Wilma Hyrons (Facebook)
Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the AFP’s Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom), said the rescue efforts of Joint Task Force Hyrons were continuous to locate and save Allan Arthur Hyrons, 70, and his wife, Wilma.
“We are employing all our capabilities. Even the Secretary of National Defense [Delfin Lorenzana] and the [AFP] Chief of Staff [Lieutenant General Noel Clement] talagang they are dipping their fingers in our effort,” Sobejana said.
Even the British government, according to Sobejana, has sent a word to offer help for the immediate rescue of the Hyrons couple.
However, the rescue efforts continue to prove futile as he said there are some elements who are muddling their operations to mislead the operatives.
“Maraming sumasakay sa kidnapping na ‘to eh. Minsan, may apat na lugar from different sources nagsasabi ng iba’t ibang lugar (A lot of [people] are riding on the issue of this kidnapping incident. At times, there are different sources citing four possible locations),” he stated.
“It cannot [happen]. They cannot be at the same time, same place at a given time. Maximum na siguro ‘yung dalawa kung pinaghiwalay sila (The maximum could be two different [locations] if they were separated),” he continued.
He raised the possibility that the kidnappers could have a hand in the tactic to mislead them.
“They were thinking that all the information magrerely kami (we will rely on them) without the benefit of validation,” he said.
The WestMinCom chief said they have since created an intelligence fusion cell to validate all the information and tips they were receiving.
As of writing, Sobejana said there is no conclusive evidence yet to rule that the extremist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) is the one behind the kidnapping incident.
The Hyrons couple was taken at gunpoint by six armed men at a resort they own in Tukuran town on October 4.
Earlier, Sobejana disclosed that one of the possible motives being eyed by investigators is personal grudge.
He said at least five school teachers of Hyrons College Philippines — owned by the couple — were dismissed on September 20.
According to Sobejana, one of the five teachers had a connection with a local kidnap group in Zamboanga.
Aside from that, Sobejana said a local kidnap group behind the incident may have turned over the couple to the ASG, a tactic that has since been popular among threat groups in Mindanao.
“We are employing all our capabilities. Even the Secretary of National Defense [Delfin Lorenzana] and the [AFP] Chief of Staff [Lieutenant General Noel Clement] talagang they are dipping their fingers in our effort,” Sobejana said.
Even the British government, according to Sobejana, has sent a word to offer help for the immediate rescue of the Hyrons couple.
However, the rescue efforts continue to prove futile as he said there are some elements who are muddling their operations to mislead the operatives.
“Maraming sumasakay sa kidnapping na ‘to eh. Minsan, may apat na lugar from different sources nagsasabi ng iba’t ibang lugar (A lot of [people] are riding on the issue of this kidnapping incident. At times, there are different sources citing four possible locations),” he stated.
“It cannot [happen]. They cannot be at the same time, same place at a given time. Maximum na siguro ‘yung dalawa kung pinaghiwalay sila (The maximum could be two different [locations] if they were separated),” he continued.
He raised the possibility that the kidnappers could have a hand in the tactic to mislead them.
“They were thinking that all the information magrerely kami (we will rely on them) without the benefit of validation,” he said.
The WestMinCom chief said they have since created an intelligence fusion cell to validate all the information and tips they were receiving.
As of writing, Sobejana said there is no conclusive evidence yet to rule that the extremist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) is the one behind the kidnapping incident.
The Hyrons couple was taken at gunpoint by six armed men at a resort they own in Tukuran town on October 4.
Earlier, Sobejana disclosed that one of the possible motives being eyed by investigators is personal grudge.
He said at least five school teachers of Hyrons College Philippines — owned by the couple — were dismissed on September 20.
According to Sobejana, one of the five teachers had a connection with a local kidnap group in Zamboanga.
Aside from that, Sobejana said a local kidnap group behind the incident may have turned over the couple to the ASG, a tactic that has since been popular among threat groups in Mindanao.
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