Marines rescue hostage; 2 Abu Sayyaf slain

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The other civilian taken with two policewomen by Abu Sayyaf bandits in Patikul, Sulu was rescued on Tuesday.  

Personnel of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 3 led by Lt. Col. Ramil Holgado rescued Blas Jackosalim Ahamad in Sitio Budjang, Barangay Libog Kabao, Panglima Estimo at about 2 p.m., according to Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana.

On Saturday, Faizal Ahidji was freed in Sitio Daang Puti, Barangay Bangkal in Patikul. He was brought to the Joint Task Force Sulu for debriefing.

“The information Ahidji shared to us led to the rescue of Ahamad,” Sobejana said.

Ahamad and Ahidji as well as Police Officer 2 Benierose Alvarez and PO1 Dinah Gumahad had just visited their friends at a military camp when they were snatched in Barangay Liang on April 29.

As government troopers launched another operation yesterday to rescue the policewomen, two Abu Sayyaf bandits, one of them identified as Abrajir Jamsuri, alias Radis, were killed in an encounter in Barangay Lagasan, Parang.

Four high-powered firearms were recovered at the scene.

A rescue operation on Monday left three bandits dead and seven soldiers wounded.

Sobejana said they would continue to uphold  the no-ransom policy even as he gave assurance that government troopers would exhaust all efforts to rescue the remaining hostages and neutralize the Abu Sayyaf.

The kidnappers demanded P5 million in exchange for the release of the policewomen.

“With the support of local government officials, religious leaders, the sultanate of Sulu, other stakeholders and the community as a whole, we may safely rescue the remaining victims,” Sobejana said. 

The Abu Sayyaf is also holding a Dutch man, a Vietnamese, three Indonesians and five other Filipinos.

Kidnap suspect held

In Basilan, Langa Jamil Francisco, 52, alias Teng, who has a pending warrant for seven counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention, was arrested in Barangay Sta. Barbara in this city on Tuesday.

Francisco was tagged in the kidnapping of Golden Harvest Plantation workers in Barangay Tairan, Lantawan, Basilan on June 11, 2001.