Gunmen abduct 2 children, 2 others in Jolo

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Unidentified gunmen abducted two children, their driver and nanny, Jolo, Sulu on Monday morning.

Capt. Ryan Lacuesta, spokesperson of the 2nd Marine Brigade, identified the siblings as Mohammad Zaher J. Naim, 10 and Princess Raiza Karanain, 8, residents of Barangay Alat, Jolo town.

Lacuesta said the children's nanny Almalyn Abuhail, 18 and family driver Saddam Amlih were also taken by a group of five gunmen.

He said the victims were on their way to the school at around 7 a.m. when the gunmen blocked their vehicle along Scott Road in Jolo.

Police and Marines forces have launched hot pursuit operations, the Marines spokesperson said.

Police records showed that the latest kidnapping has brought the number of kidnap victims in Sulu to eight, which include Engineer Bonifacio and wife Claire Salinas, and Merilyn Suhali and Fatima Hussein.