Armed men seize 2 Basilan fishermen

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The number of hostages held captive in Basilan has increased to seven after the military confirmed that armed men seized two fishermen near Sibago Island last April 4.

Rear Admiral Alexander Pama, chief of Naval Forces Western Mindanao and Task Force Trillium, said fishermen Ronnie Nabie, 25, and Reynante Saquen, 30, were earlier reported to be merely missing but later turned out to have been snatched.

Pama said the two are being held in the eastern part of Basilan, although the military is still clueless on who their abductors are.

Still being held in Basilan are teachers Janette de los Reyes, Rafael Mayonado, and Freires Quizon, who were seized last Jan. 23 off an island in Zamboanga City; Sri Lankan Umar Jaleel of the Brussels-based Nonviolent Peaceforce, who was snatched last Feb. 13 in Lamitan City; and Leah Patris, an employee of a lending firm who was abducted last Feb. 3 in Sumisip along with two companions who were later freed. Three other teachers are being held captive in Zamboanga Sibugay.