SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 02, 2008) – Suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen have freed a kidnapped Muslim teacher hours after he was seized in the southern Filipino province of Sulu, police said.
Superintendent Julasirim Kasim Sulu police chief said Lullong Marrack, 60, was released late Tuesday near Maimbung town. “He is already freed last night and we are still to investigate the motive of his kidnapping,” Kasim told the Mindanao Examiner.
He said Marrack, who was in a passenger jeep, was seized at around 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday while on his way to a high school graduation in the village of Kulasi. “The gunmen flagged down the jeep and abducted Marrack,” Kasim said.
It was unknown whether Marrack’s family paid ransom or not in exchange for the safe release of the victim. But other sources in the town said the victim’s family negotiated for the freedom of the teacher.
Another group of Abu Sayyaf is also holding Rosalie Lao, a Filipino trader with Chinese descent, kidnapped January 28 in Sulu’s Jolo town.
Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan has ordered security forces to hunt down the Abu Sayyaf and step up patrol in the province. “We are campaigning hard to maintain peace and order in Sulu and we do not want any incident of kidnappings or terrorism in the province,” Tan said in a separate interview.
Superintendent Julasirim Kasim Sulu police chief said Lullong Marrack, 60, was released late Tuesday near Maimbung town. “He is already freed last night and we are still to investigate the motive of his kidnapping,” Kasim told the Mindanao Examiner.
He said Marrack, who was in a passenger jeep, was seized at around 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday while on his way to a high school graduation in the village of Kulasi. “The gunmen flagged down the jeep and abducted Marrack,” Kasim said.
It was unknown whether Marrack’s family paid ransom or not in exchange for the safe release of the victim. But other sources in the town said the victim’s family negotiated for the freedom of the teacher.
Another group of Abu Sayyaf is also holding Rosalie Lao, a Filipino trader with Chinese descent, kidnapped January 28 in Sulu’s Jolo town.
Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan has ordered security forces to hunt down the Abu Sayyaf and step up patrol in the province. “We are campaigning hard to maintain peace and order in Sulu and we do not want any incident of kidnappings or terrorism in the province,” Tan said in a separate interview.
Last month, Abu Sayyaf militants have freed a kidnapped Muslim university principal, Omar Taup, after more than two months in captivity in the southern Philippine province of Tawi-Tawi.
Taup was kidnapped January 16 after militants raided the Notre Dame University in the province and killed its Catholic priest, Reynaldo Roda, after he resisted the kidnappers.
Police did not say if ransom was paid for the safe release of Taup, but the Abu Sayyaf had earlier demanded P1 million for his freedom. (Nickee Butlangan)
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