Abu Sayyaf abducts 4 in Basilan
SUSPECTED Abu Sayyaf bandits yesterday swooped down on a plywood factory in Basilan and snatched four of its workers, the PNP said yesterday.
The military said three workers were taken.
The PNP said initial reports pointed to the Abu Sayyaf which beheaded a principal kidnapped last month in the province.
The head of principal Gabriel Canizares was found early Monday near a gas station in Jolo town. His body was found hours later at a creek near the camp of the 3rd Marine Battalion headquarters in Bus-bus, Jolo, Sulu.
"The initial report that we got from the regional police office is that the Abu Sayyaf Group did it. We have yet to identify what Abu Sayyaf faction kidnapped the victims. As we all know, there are several ASG factions operating in Basilan and elsewhere," said Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina, PNP spokesman.
He said the kidnappers have not yet made contact with authorities.
Chief Supt. Paisal Umpa, chief of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police, identified the victims as Jerry Tan, Michael Tan, Oscar Tan, and a certain Mark, who were working in the factory in Sitio Tahem, Barangay Townsite, Maluso town.
The military identified the victims as Michael Tan, 27, Oscar Lu, 51 and Mark Singson. It said the workers were snatched by a 20-man band from the High-Tech Plywood plant at Sitio Butong,
not Sitio Tahem.
Police reports said a group of some 30 heavily armed men in camouflage stormed the factory at around 12:10 a.m. by destroying the rear wooden fence of the plant.
Espina said the 1520th and 1519th Provincial Mobile Groups have joined forces with the Maluso PNP in conducting pursuit operations.
Secretary to the Cabinet Silvestre Bello III said Malacañang expects results in manhunt and follow-up operations against the Abu Sayyaf "within the next 24 hours."
Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez admitted that beheading embarrassed the government which is preparing for the arrival tomorrow of US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.
Rep. Mujiv Hataman (PL, Anak Mindanao) said local officials should also be asked to explain why they failed to stop the murder of Canizares.
He said the government is good in negotiating only when the kidnap victims are foreigners. – With Victor Reyes, Jocelyn Montemayor, Gerard Naval and Wendell Vigilia
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