Units from Joint Task Force Basilan yesterday rescued nine road workers earlier kidnapped by suspected Abu Sayyaf Group at the outskirts of Sumisip, Basilan.
Col. Joselito Bautista of the Joint Task Group Basilan said the ASG bandits were forced to abandon the men at about 4:40 p.m. at Barangay Kaumpamatse, Sumisip town after composite troops surrounded their supposed hideouts.
The rescued workers, employees of Mace Construction Corp., were taken to the 64th Infantry Battalion headquarters in Basilan for medical checkup and then made to undergo debriefing to determine the facts of their ordeal.
The construction workers were on board a water truck while traversing Barangay Upper Benembengan when waylaid by the Abu Sayyaf Monday morning.
Bautista identified the perpetrator of the kidnapping as ASG sub-leader Juhaibel Alamsirul, alias Abu Kik.
MACE Construction has been undertaking road and bridge projects in the area.