The Abu Sayyaf terrorist group struck anew, as they kidnapped six innocent civilians, including two children at a remote village in Sulu Tuesday.
Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said the latest ASG hostage victims include three members of the Trinidad clan identified as Jessy, 55; Nene, 56 and Aloh, 22; three members of the Hapole family—Lucy, 21, and minors Junjun, 13 and Nelson, 7.
He said the victims were forcibly taken at gunpoint by the armed bandits at Phase 4, Kalamayahan Village, Brgy Latih, Patikul, Sulu at about 8:45 p.m.
Sobejana said at least 15 armed men believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf kidnap-for-ransom group swooped down on the said village and took the victims.
The latest kidnapping act by the ASG was immediately reported by concerned citizens to the Joint Task Force Sulu prompting the police operatives to dispatch quick reaction teams to verify the report parallel to the conduct of pursuit operations against the perpetrators.
“This incident again demonstrates that the notorious kidnappers in Sulu are victimizing anybody including their fellow Tausugs even those who have less in life,” Sobejana said.
“Such hostility reminds us that security is now everybody’s responsibility,” he added.
The kidnapping incident brings to 23 the total number of captive victims by the ASG.
On Oct 14, the ASG abducted five fishermen in Pangutaran, Sulu.
With the ASG’s resumption of kidnapping activities in Sulu, Sobejana called on the citizens to be vigilant and security conscious against possible terrorist acts by unidentified armed men.
“While the military is primarily responsible in serving the people and securing the land, concerned civilians are advised to take pro-active measures and ensure that anything unusual within their view are reported right away to the authorities to warrant prompt action and preempt any similar incident from happening,” Sobejana said.
