Chinese trader kidnapped by Sayyaf in Southern Philippines

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 14, 2008) – Abu Sayyaf militants kidnapped a Chinese trader in Sulu province in the southern Philippines, police said Sunday.

Senior Superintendent Julasirim Kasim, Sulu police chief, said at least four gunmen seized Peter Go, 28, as he was closing his electronics store in Jolo town at around 7 p.m. on Saturday.

“Initial reports pointed to Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad as behind the kidnapping of the Chinese trader, whose alias is Peter Go,” Kasim told the Mindanao Examiner.

He said the kidnappers; all clad in camouflage uniform and armed with automatic weapons, and dragged the victim to a waiting van in front of horrified civilians.

Chief Inspector Usman Pingay, the Jolo police chief, said Go’s real name is Xili Wu, from the Chinese province of Fujian. He said police forces pursued the kidnappers, but lost them in Indanan town.

He said Li is one of five Chinese traders who own Perlas Trading in downtown Jolo.

“It was quick; the kidnappers disarmed the security guard of the store and grabbed Xili and sped away using a van, which was probably stolen. We are tracking down the kidnappers,” Pingay said.

He said the police are investigating how the Chinese nationals, who used aliases, were able to put up a business in Jolo town. He said the foreigners arrived in Jolo in December last year and since then operated the Perlas Trading.

The Abu Sayyaf on Friday also seized Pakkam Hashim, the principal of Kutah Sairap Elementary School in the village of Wanni Piyanjihan in Parang town also in Sulu, according to the military.

Army Lieutenant Steffani Cacho tagged Abu Sayyaf leader Gafur Jumdail as behind the kidnapping of Hashim. The motive of the kidnapping is still unknown, she said.

“As far as we know the Abu Sayyaf is behind both kidnappings,” Cacho said.

Authorities tagged the Abu Sayyaf group as behind the spate of kidnappings and bomb attacks across Mindanao.

The Abu Sayyaf, which means “The Bearer of the Sword,” has been labeled a terrorist organization by both Manila and Washington, and is believed by the US to have links with the al-Qaeda terror network.

The Philippine government, aided by the US military, has deployed thousands of troops in the south in an effort to eradicate Abu Sayyaf. (Mindanao Examiner)