3 boats believed used in abduction of Zamboanga Sibugay town mayor found

MANILA, Philippines – Authorities on Sunday seized three boats in Zamboanga Sibugay province suspected to have been used in the abduction of the mayor of Naga town last week.

Brig. Gen. Joselito Kakilala, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson, said the boats were recovered during a law enforcement operation in Barangay (village) Tampalan in Alacia town.

Naga town Gemma Adana was abducted by armed men on the night of April 6, from her seaside home and has not been found since.

Prior to her abduction, Adana had dismissed her security escorts.

The military and the police have teamed up to pursue Adana’s captors and rescue the mayor.

Kakilala said authorities in Zamboanga Sibugay province have been verifying if the three boats seized on Sunday were the same ones used in spiriting away the mayor.

“(They are verifying) the information regarding the presence of such unregistered boats if these were used in the abduction. But usually this type of boats is used in unscrupulous activities,” the military spokesperson said.

The joint law enforcement operation by the military and the police was carried out at around 3 a.m. Sunday in So Tarla-Tarla, Barangay Tampalan.

The double engine boats, colored green, ivory and white, had claimants who were unable to present registration papers for the sea vessels.

Earlier, the Philippine National Police said it had possible suspects in the abduction but declined to name them given the continuing pursuit operations.

An Abral Abdusalam of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s lost command has been tagged in the abduction but the PNP did not confirm this allegation.

“Our military forces and the PNP in the area will leave no stone unturned in getting any information that would lead to the whereabouts and rescue of the mayor,” Kakilala assured on Sunday, the sixth day of her captivity. SFM