BASILAN, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 17, 2009) – Security forces rescued Tuesday a seven-year old boy hours after two gunmen kidnapped him in the southern Philippine province of Basilan.
Al Rasheed Sakkalahul, the provincial vice governor, said soldiers clashed with the gunmen and rescued the boy, Alson Porticos, in the village of Tinog in Lamitan City.
Gunmen snatched Porticos, son of a banker, at around 12 noon while on his way to school near their house in Sunrise village in Isabela City.
The victim was on a motorbike with his sister Shalinnete Porticos and driver Alejandro Porticos when two armed men stopped them on a highway. The boy's sister managed to escape and told his father about the kidnapping.
"The quick response of the authorities led to the rescue of the boy and the arrest of the kidnappers," Sakkalahul told the Mindanao Examiner.
He said one of the kidnappers was wounded in the clash and captured by soldiers and policemen. The other, he said, escaped, but is being hunted down by the soldiers.
Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga, commander of military forces in Western Mindanao, said security forces have intensified its patrol in Basilan and that soldiers and policemen put checkpoints in key areas in the province.
“Military and police have intensified security operations in Basilan and the rescue of the boy proved that security forces are ready to respond to the problems of lawlessness in the province,” he said.
Abu Sayyaf militants are still holding a nine-year old boy, Chester Gruta; a lending firm employee, Leah Patris; three government teachers - Freires Quizon, Janette delos Reyes and Rafael Mayorada, and Sri Lankan peace activist Umar Jaleel.
The secluded Basilan Governor Jum Akbar has declared an all-out war against kidnappers in the province. (Mindanao Examiner)
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