Gunmen abduct 10-year-old boy in Jolo, Sulu

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 16): Gunmen abduct 10-year-old boy in Jolo, Sulu

Motorcycle-riding gunmen have seized a 10-year-old boy in Sulu province but spared his two companions, the military reported Thursday.

Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, disclosed the incident happened at about 7:20 a.m. Thursday near a snack house in Barangay San Raymundo, Jolo, capital of Sulu.

Besana identified the victim as Zaire Khan Pasil, 10, a resident of Sheik Mustafa Subdivision, Barangay San Raymundo, Jolo.

Besana said Pasil and his 13-year old sister was on board a family-owned jeep driven by Aldasir Tallow on the way to school when accosted and forcibly taken by six gunmen on board three motorcycles.

The gunmen left Pasil’s sister and the driver unharmed.

He said Pasil, a Grade 5 pupil, is studying at the Notre Dame of Jolo Elementary School.

Taking Pasil with them, the suspects sped towards the direction of Barangay Latih, Patikul municipality, Besana said, adding that the military and the police are exerting efforts to determine the whereabouts of the boy.

It was not immediately known whether the gunmen are members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), which gained notoriety for its kidnapping activities.

The ASG is still holding captive 10 people in Sulu -- three Indonesians, one Dutch, one Vietnamese and five Filipinos.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1045115