Troops rescue boat captain in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Due to heavy pressure from the military, the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) was reportedly forced to release the captain of a tugboat, one of two hostages the bandits abducted two days ago in the waters off Basilan province two days ago.

Armed Forces of the Philippines - Western Mindanao Command (AFPWestMinCom) Spokesman Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay said Aurelio Agac-ac, skipper of M/T Super Shuttle Tugboat 1, was released by his captors at about 5:30 am, Saturday in the village of Basakan, a coastal village in the town of Hadji Mohammad Ajul in Basilan.

The M/T Super Shuttle Tugboat 1 was towing M/V Super Shuttle RoRo 9, a Panama registered cargo vessel, from Cebu City en-route to General Santos City last Thursday when it was attacked by the ASG bandits, who went on to abduct Agacac and chief engineer Laurence Tiro.

Pursuing military troops immediately recovered Agac-ac and transported him to Camp Navarro General Hospital located inside the AFP-WestMinCom headquarters in this city for medical check-up, Petinglay said.

She said government troops were still conducting hot pursuit operations against the ASG who continued to hold Tiro hostage.

Last Thursday afternoon, a member of the ASG involved in the kidnapping of Agac-c and Tiro was killed during a shootout with elements of the 19th Special Forces Company of the Fourth Special Forces Battalion in Basilan province.

Petinglay said Jaudi Salupuddin was killed during a gun battle with soldiers of the 19th Special Forces Company of the 4th Special Forces Battalion in Basilan province.

Meanwhile, in a separate operation by the military in Basilan, an ASG member was killed and five motorized bancas were seized.

Petinglay said the joint raid was conducted by combined elements of the Third Scout Ranger Battalion under the Joint Task Force Basilan and members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team of Tuburan.

The raid resulted in the slay of of Bistahan K. Nisalun, alias Upang-Upang, in Barangay Lahi-Lahi, Tuburan, Basilan last Thursday morning, Petinglay said.