Tawi-Tawi police say Abu Sayyaf not behind abduction of 3
BONGAO, Philippines – Police authorities in the province said Monday’s abduction of three people here was an isolated case and was not the work of the Abu Sayyaf.
Superintendent Cerrazid Umabong, Tawi-Tawi police said, based on what the police had gathered, the abduction of Joseph Bani, 49; Joshua Bani, 21; and Teroy Hajan, 51, could have been triggered by personal motives.
But he admitted the police did not have a “clear background” on the abducted victims.
The three victims were residents of Barangay (village) Fishery here. They were taken from their homes by armed men, whose identities were also undetermined, Umabong said.
The last known involvement of the Abu Sayyaf in an abduction case in the province was that of birdwatchers Dutch national Ewold Horn and Swiss Lorenzo Vinciguerra in February 2012.
The two Europeans remain in the hands of the bandit group, which has since moved them to Sulu.
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