ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 20, 2008) – Unidentified gunmen kidnapped at least three people on Sunday in the southern Philippine island of Basilan, a Catholic clergy said.
Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad said the three - Ronnie Ando, Vilma Ayson and Wilma Suharludo and several children – were seized on a highway near Lamitan town. It was not immediately known how many children were taken by the gunmen or the motive of the kidnapping.
The gunmen apparently flagged down a passenger jeep and seized the victims. Jumoad also reported the matter to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.
Police said it deployed additional forces in Basilan following the spate of kidnappings blamed to Abu Sayyaf militants. "We have deployed more mobile checkpoints and additional foot patrols in the province to deter crimes," the island's police chief Salik Macapantar told the Mindanao Examiner.
Six people, including two village officials, were kidnapped on the largely Muslim island in recent weeks and four of them had been ransomed off while police rescued the remaining hostage. (Mindanao Examiner)
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