2 Indonesian sailors rescued from Sayyaf men

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Government troops rescued two Indonesian hostages following an encounter with Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu yesterday.

Saparrudin Kone and Sawal Maryam were recovered from a Tamaraw FX intercepted at a military checkpoint in Barangay Bunot, Indanan while soldiers were pursuing the bandits they encountered in Talipao at around 6:30 a.m., Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, said.

Sobejana said soldiers of the 41st Infantry Battalion encountered around 20 Abu Sayyaf bandits led by Indang Susukan in Barangay Upper Binuang.

Five bandits were killed while five soldiers were slightly wounded in the clash. Soldiers recovered three high-powered firearms from the fatalities.

“It appears they were able to flee from their captors after the encounter,” Sobejana said.

He said they are trying to determine if the two hostages were the ones held by the group of Susukan.

Kone and Maryam were taken to the Camp Gen. Teodulfo Bautista Hospital in Barangay Bus-bus, Jolo for medical checkup. They are set to undergo custodial debriefing.

The two are among the seven Indonesian sailors taken by Abu Sayyaf bandits in the waters off Merabong near Kunak district in Sabah on Nov. 19, 2016.

Sixteen persons – four Vietnamese, five Indonesians, a Dutch man and four Filipinos – remain in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf.

Mayor’s son kidnapped

In Zamboanga del Norte, unidentified gunmen snatched a son of Labason, Zamboanga del Norte Mayor Eddie Quimbo on Wednesday night.

Businessman Jelster Ed Tiu Quimbo, 28, was taken from the municipal hall at around 6:45 p.m. The gunmen forced Quimbo into a red van that proceeded to Gutalac town.

Chief Inspector Helen Galvez, Zamboanga peninsula police spokesman, said the van was found abandoned in Barangay Usukan.

Authorities said the kidnappers could have escaped by boat with their captive.

Galvez said personnel of the Labason police and 42nd Infantry Battalion are conducting pursuit operations for the kidnappers.

Chief Superintendent Billy Beltran, regional police director, alerted government forces to coordinate with other units in neighboring provinces to locate the victim and the suspects.