2 Abu Sayyaf captives rescued

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines  – Combined police forces rescued on Friday night two Chinese nationals held captive by more than three months by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits in the mountains of Sumisip, Basilan, authorities said.

Senior Superintendent Antonio Mendoza, Basilan police director, said the kidnappers were forced to abandon captives Bo Shung Tan alias Michael Tan and Zi Shun Lu alias Oscar Lu, who were recovered at around 8:20 p.m. Friday in Barangay Benembengan, Sumisip town.

Mendoza said combined forces of the Philippine Anti-Crime Emergency Response and Special Action Force under his command recovered the two Chinese nationals.

Mendoza believes that the continuous pressure applied by joint forces of the police and military forced the Abu Sayyaf group led by Puruji Indama to abandon the two captives.

The two were abducted along with Filipino worker Mark Singson last Nov. 10 at a plywood factory they were working for in Maluso town.

Singson was beheaded a month later after their employer failed to pay the initial P1.5-million ransom.

The Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry earlier had sought the help of President Arroyo for the early recovery of the two Chinese nationals, as they bewailed the slow pace of police and military operations against their kidnappers.

Mendoza said Zi was described to be very weak while Bo was in good condition when they were rescued in the mountains of Sumisip town.

Mendoza said the two were immediately brought to this city on board a police speedboat and were confined in a hospital for treatment.

“We have not monitored any information whether ransom was involved. All we believe is it was due to pressure that forced the kidnappers to free their captives since our forces had been trailing the group since the signal to launch a rescue (mission) was given by the crisis management committee,” he said.

Indama’s group had directly contacted the families of their two captives and reportedly demanded P13-million ransom.

But they later cut off negotiations with local authorities, prompting the crisis management committee to allow the rescue operation.   – With Alexis Romero