Abus take 10 workers hostage

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Abu Sayyaf bandits seized and held hostage 10 construction workers in a remote village in Sumisip, Basilan yesterday morning, security officials said.

The workers were in a dump truck when they were waylaid by at least 20 bandits at past 9 a.m. in Barangay Upper Binembengan.

The bandits were reportedly led by a certain Kik Alamsirul, alias Abu Kik, according to Lt. Col. Melisan Raymund Recaido, chief of the Army’s 64th Infantry Battalion.

The military said the gunmen ordered the workers of Mace Construction to get off the truck.

Hours later, the workers were ordered to board the truck, which the bandits drove toward the village of Crossing Pennas, where the victims are being held.

The workers were identified as truck driver Munib Sadidul and his companions as Nasser Jallaha, Merhusin Ubbay, Mustapha Gapul, Abukaisir Nasilin, Jaya Abdulla, Johan Sarao, Nadzhar Gardon, Alsibar Jauhari, and Margani Alpha.

The workers were on their way to finish the Basilan circumferential road in Sumisip when they were seized by the bandits.

The area has been described to be dangerous due to the presence of the Abu Sayyaf bandits, who extort money from contractors.

The provincial police said negotiation was underway for the release of the victims.

Troopers from the joint task group were deployed to secure the area.

The military team was waiting for orders to assault the bandits and rescue the hostages. – With Jaime Laude