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By Al Jacinto, Correspondent
ZAMBOANGA CITY: Security forces rescued a trader
kidnapped by the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group after a firefight
before sunrise Friday in Sulu province, police said.
Initial reports said that Abu Sayyaf militants
abandoned Rosalie Lao after the gun battle near the village of
Kaunayan in Patikul town. “She is safe and finally reunited with
her family,” Sulu Police Chief, Supt. Julasirim Kasim, told The
Manila Times.
There were no reports of casualties, but Kasim
said the kidnappers managed to escape under cover of darkness and
that security forces kept pursuing the Abu Sayyaf. “The running
gun battle lasted several minutes and the kidnappers abandoned
Lao,” Kasim said.
He said the 45-year-old Lao was first spotted in
the village of Kaagi at around 4 a.m. and policemen, backed by
soldiers, pursued the kidnappers until they caught up with them and
a firefight ensued.
Lao was kidnapped January 28 outside her house
in Jolo town and the Abu Sayyaf demanded P2 million for her freedom,
but it was unknown whether her family had paid money to the gang or
not.
Kasim said Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan sent doctors to
examine the victim’s health condition. “Doctors examined her on
orders of Gov. Tan and the lady trader looks OK,” he said.
On Wednesday, Abu Sayyaf militants freed six
people they had kidnapped in Sulu’s Maimbung town.
The six men, kidnapped on Tuesday, were freed
after the victims’ families paid an unspecified amount of money to
the kidnappers headed by Gafur Jumdail, police said.
The six were kidnapped after gunmen hijacked
their jeep while transporting six drums of gasoline near the village
of Kulasi.
Abu Sayyaf also kidnapped and freed Lullong
Marrack, a school principal, last week.
Marrack’s family, police said, reportedly paid
ransom for the safe release of the victim.
Last month, the Abu Sayyaf released a kidnapped
Muslim teacher, Omar Taup of Notre Dame University in Tawi-Tawi
province. Taup was kidnapped January 16 after militants raided the
school and killed its Catholic priest, Reynaldo Roda when he
resisted the kidnappers.
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