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Abu Sayyaf stages new kidnapping in Basilan ZAMBOANGA
CITY: Suspected Muslim extremists abducted two telecom servicemen on
Basilan Island in the latest in a rash of such kidnappings in the
area, police said Thursday.
The Philippine National Police in
Basilan launched operations to locate the whereabouts of the
kidnapped employees identified as Jayson Constancia and Felardo
Tolentino.
Reports
reaching Camp Crame said the two, together with nine other
colleagues were on their way to inspect a cell site in Languyan
village on the boundary of Tuburan town, when three armed men,
suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), blocked their way.
The nine others managed to flee.
Island police chief Sr. Supt.
Salik Macapantar said he suspected the same Muslim gang that seized
and then freed five electricity workers on the island just weeks
ago, reportedly receiving a hefty ransom as well, kidnapped them.
“It appears that they are
making kidnapping as a cottage industry and this must be stopped,”
Macapantar warned.
The abduction came a week after
al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf extremists released four electric
cooperative employees who spent 15 days in captivity in the restive
province.
It was last month when the
extremist group kidnapped an ABS-CBN crew headed by television
anchor Ces Drilon.
A P3-million ransom is being
asked by the ASG, the police said.
--Maricel V. Cruz with AFP
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