ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 23, 2009) – Unidentified gunmen intercepted a motorboat on Friday and snatched three government teachers at sea near the southern the southern Philippine port city of Zamboanga, officials said.
Officials said the three came from Sacol Island and were on their way to Arena Blanco village in Zamboanga City when gunmen intercepted them at around 8 a.m. “We have reports the teachers were seized by gunmen and we are now searching for them,” village leader Musa Sakaluran said.
The three hostages were identified as Freires Quizon, Janette delos Reyes and Rafael Mayorada.
Government soldiers were also deployed to help in the rescue operation, but the fate of the hostages is unknown.
“We have deployed soldiers helping the police in the operation to locate the victims. We are doing everything to locate them,” said Army Col. Santiago Baluyot, commander of a military anti-terror task force.
No group claimed responsibility for the abductions, but there have been a sudden spike in kidnappings-for-ransom in Zamboanga City in recent months. Authorities have blamed previous kidnappings to the Abu Sayyaf group tied to Indonesian terror group Jemaah Islamiya and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. (Mindanao Examiner)
Officials said the three came from Sacol Island and were on their way to Arena Blanco village in Zamboanga City when gunmen intercepted them at around 8 a.m. “We have reports the teachers were seized by gunmen and we are now searching for them,” village leader Musa Sakaluran said.
The three hostages were identified as Freires Quizon, Janette delos Reyes and Rafael Mayorada.
Government soldiers were also deployed to help in the rescue operation, but the fate of the hostages is unknown.
“We have deployed soldiers helping the police in the operation to locate the victims. We are doing everything to locate them,” said Army Col. Santiago Baluyot, commander of a military anti-terror task force.
No group claimed responsibility for the abductions, but there have been a sudden spike in kidnappings-for-ransom in Zamboanga City in recent months. Authorities have blamed previous kidnappings to the Abu Sayyaf group tied to Indonesian terror group Jemaah Islamiya and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. (Mindanao Examiner)
1 comment:
why am i not surprised about the recent kidnapping spree happening. here's a simple formula:
upcoming election + kidnapping = added military/election funds.
who's to blame? one thing's for sure, reserve your other fingers and quit blaming it solely on the ASG.
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