Three kidnapped by Filipino gunmen
About 20 gunmen believed to be members of the outlawed Abu Sayyaf Group raided a plywood factory at dawn yesterday, taking three workers captive.
The latest kidnappings, a day after the same group beheaded a school principal they abducted last month, took place in Maluso town in the province of Basilan.
Basilan Vice Governor Al Rasheed Sakalahul said the armed men disguised themselves as soldiers and barged into the Hi-tech Wood Craft Corporation where they took the three workers, two of whom are ethnic Chinese.
The raiders disarmed a guard before they seized caretakers Michael Tan, 27, and Oscar Lu, 51, and labourer Michael Singson.
Another factory guard, Sakilan Lumayon, opened fire on the gunmen as they fled with the three captives, but it was unknown whether he hit anyone, said Sakalahul.
“We still don’t know who was behind the abductions. There is an ongoing investigation and government troops are tracking down the gunmen and their hostages,” Sakalahul said. “Ransom could be the reason behind the abduction of the two caretakers.”
The Abu Sayyaf and the larger Moro Islamic Liberation Front are both actively operating in Basilan province and had been linked to kidnaps for ransom.
A faction of the Abu Sayyaf beheaded school principal Gabriel Canizares in Patikul, Sulu after his family failed to raise two million pesos (€20,000) in ransom. His severed head was found on Monday in a petrol station.
In September, Abu Sayyaf militants in Basilan freed three kidnapped government teachers after private negotiators paid millions of pesos in ransom.
The latest abductions occurred as the police, military and MILF rebels have readied troops to search and rescue Irish Columban priest Fr Michael Sinnott, who was seized October 11 in Pagadian City.
The kidnappers of the 78-year-old missionary are demanding €1.3 for his release, a move rejected by the Catholic congregation and Philippines president Arroyo.
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