Abu Sayyaf men seize government engineer

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) – A government engineer was abducted by Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members in the province of Sulu, the military reported Wednesday.

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, identified the victim as Enrico Nee of the Department of Public Works and Highways in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DPWH-ARMM).

Sobejana said Nee, who belonged to the first engineering district, was seized at around 7:45 a.m. Wednesday in Barangay San Raymundo, Jolo, Sulu.

Sobejana said the victim was waiting for a tricycle approximately 20 meters away from his residence when a lone gunman approached and at gunpoint forced him to board a waiting Tamaraw-type jeep.

He said the jeep sped off towards Barangay Anuling, Patikul municipality.

“The incident may be part of the express kidnapping of the ASG to get ransom payment and sustain their terror activities,” he added.

He said rescue operation was immediately launched by the Joint Task Force Sulu and the police forces in the province.

“We already recovered the getaway vehicle and closely tracking the escape route (of the ASG),” Sobejana said.

“We are appealing to the public to immediately inform us on any monitored hostile plans of the ASG so that we can take immediate appropriate action,” he added citing the public should be aware that security is everybody's responsibility.