Rescue underway for kidnapped Basilan teachers

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Government troops are ready to rescue the three public school teachers kidnapped, by the Abu Sayyaf in the jungle of Basilan, as the victims face an ultimatum of possible beheading, according to a military official.

Capt. Neil Estrella, designated spokesman for the Task Force Trillium which is dealing with the Abu Sayyaf and the syndicated kidnap group of the rogue rebels, said troops have been beefed up for the rescue operation.

The kidnappers, allegedly a multi-group of Abu Sayyaf, rogue Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and armed goons operating in kidnap for ransom in Basilan have set until Friday (May 29) for the victims’ families, or the government to pay P3-million ransom for the release of teachers Janette delos Reyes, Rafael Mayonado and Freires Quizon.

The victims, all public school teachers assigned in Landang Gua, Sacol Island, of this city, were abducted on Jan. 23 while on their way back to the city proper.

The kidnappers, believed to be of the same faction beheaded the other Sunday 61-year-old carpenter Doroteo Gonzales after ransom was not paid. His decapitated head was recovered but the torso has been missing.

“Continuous ang galaw ng mga tropa. All the troops on the ground are doing their best to safely recover the hostages,” Estrella said.

He dismissed the warning and ultimatum set by the kidnappers citing that the military have been engaged already for the rescue of the teachers even without the ultimatum.

“We are not bound by any ultimatum or deadline. Every minute for our troops is very important,” Estrella said.

The victims in their messages to their families earlier disclosed that their captors started to tighten guard on them and even started tying them to avoid them from escaping and has limited their food.

The military and police, however, brushed this information, citing that it is part of the propaganda of the kidnappers who were dictating their captives on what to say.

Estrella, warned the kidnappers as five of the suspected kidnappers of Gonzales have been committed to jail.

Estrella branded the five suspects as the “master planner” of the kidnapping in the city while the Abu Sayyaf and their rogue rebels in Basilan are mere custodians.

He identified four of those who were committed to jail as Nasser Abdurajak alias Taung, Muamar Akbar alias Memet, Hiya Asdalinalias Abu Salip, and a certain Ben Mungkay, alias Boy Negro.