ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews / 15 Jan) – Government forces have rescued three employees of a construction firm undertaking a government project an hour after suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits seized them Thursday in the municipality of Akbar in Basilan.
Capt. Eugene Espino, Joint Task Group Basilan information officer, identified them as Edgar Francisco, 40; Sommy Siason, 17; and Alex Francisco, 18, all of CNJ construction firm based in Isabela City.
Espino said the victims were seized around 8:35 a.m. Thursday in Barangay Caddayan where the construction firm is undertaking a government project.
Espino said the victims were aboard a dump truck when the suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits led by Abdulhassan Tabadjanul flagged them down and seized them.
He said task group troops, in coordination with the police and municipal government officials, launched pursuit operations that forced the bandits to release the victims an hour after.[]
Engr. Nasser Abdulgani, PEO officer-in-charge, has told the police that they have received a text message earlier from the Abu Sayyaf bandits demanding P900,000 protection money “as one time bill.
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