7 abducted in Basilan
Authorities unsure if MILF or Abu
By Abigail Kwok, Julie Alipala
INQUIRER.net, Mindanao Bureau
First Posted 12:51:00 12/02/2008
Filed Under: Police, Kidnapping
MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) Seven laborers were abducted in Basilan Monday afternoon, although authorities on Tuesday were unsure whether the kidnappers belonged to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) or the Abu Sayyaf group.
Chief Superintendent Bensali Jabarani, regional police director of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), said Mau Ponce, a certain Jobert, Alfred Layam, Wagi Toledo, Tomas De Leon, Albert Manulis, and Adraky Kaseris were taken by alleged MILF guerrillas around 4:30 p.m. in Tuburan town.
But reports from the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER) unit in Zamboanga City identified the abductors as suspected Abu Sayyaf members under a Commander Pula.
The PACER said the victims were workers at the sand and gravel concession of a local contractor in Mohammad Ajul town.
Jabarani said the workers were riding a hauling truck that was flagged down. The truck was abandoned.
The PACER report said the victims were seized in Sitio (sub-village) Babag in Barangay (village) Langong by 10 hooded men.
"The whereabouts of the victims as well as the motive remain unclear," the PACER said.
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