Abus snatch Sulu midwife

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The Abu Sayyaf seized a female medical worker in a village in Indanan, Sulu the other day possibly, authorities believe, to treat its men who were wounded in a firefight with government troops last week, the military said yesterday.

Lt. Col. Randolf Cabangbang, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command, said the victim, Hadja Evangeline Taverisma, 55, wife of a retired soldier, was on her way to Barangay Tagbak where she serves as midwife when she was snatched at around 3 p.m. Wednesday by four men armed with caliber .45 pistols.

The armed men dragged Taverisma to a six-seater, red Tamaraw jeepney that sped toward Jolo town.

Cabangbang said the armed men’s getaway vehicle was similar to the one used by the Abu Sayyaf group of Nasir Timbang and Commander Palu in the kidnapping three weeks ago of Jose and Jocelyn Batronel, who are engaged in merchandising. The Batronels were freed separately after payment of ransom.

Cabangbang cited reports that the Abu Sayyaf snatched Taverisma to treat its members who were wounded in Patikul town last July 28.

He said Indanan town is just near Patikul where fierce fighting left a number of Abu Sayyaf bandits dead and wounded.

Seven Marines were killed, five of them beheaded and mutilated, while 26 others were wounded in the four-hour gunfight which saw the fall of the Abu Sayyaf camp in Barangay Panglayahan, Patikul.

Cabangbang said though they were not discounting the possibility that the midwife’s kidnapping could be an Abu Sayyaf ploy to divert the attention of Marines and the Army’s elite Light Reaction Company pursuing five Abu Sayyaf leaders who led more than 70 followers and Jemaah Islamiyah militants in the Patikul encounter.

Among those being hunted down are Abu Sayyaf leaders Radulan Sahiron, Isnilon Hapilon, and Yasser Igassan.

President Aquino imposed the “highest order of battle” against the Abu Sayyaf, giving assurance that there would be no let-up in the pursuit against the militants even during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

“The abduction could (also) be part of the diversionary attempt of the Abu Sayyaf to ease the military pressure launched against their leaders and comrades in Patikul town,” Cabangbang said. – With Jaime Laude