ASG kidnaps Sulu councilor

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Military and police authorities in Sulu province are now conducting hot pursuit operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who kidnapped Jolo, Sulu Councilor Zed Tan on Wednesday in Indanan, Sulu.

Joint Task Force Sulu Commander Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said the councilor identified as Zed Tan, nephew of former Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan, was returning to the town proper along with his 11 biker companions when the kidnapping incident happened at the boundary of Barangay Timbangan and Barangay Tagbak in Indanan, Sulu at about 6 p.m., Wednesday.

Sobejana said about six fully armed members of the Ajan-Ajang group which is affiliated with the ASG forcibly took Tan and made him board a red Tamaraw getaway vehicle which immediately sped towards the municipality of Talipao, Sulu, the adjacent town of Indanan.

According to reports, Tan is now in the custody of the Tanum group led by the Yadah brothers in the village of Tugas in Patikul, Sulu.

Sobejana declined to confirm the report but said they are “validating” the same report which they also received from their intelligence community in the area.

Sobejana said the military in Sulu continued to exert effort to locate Tan and free him from his captors.

Sobejana said he has created a Task Force that will conduct the rescue operation on Tan.