Kidnapped midwife in Sulu rescued

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Joint security forces rescued yesterday morning a midwife kidnapped by suspected Abu Sayyaf members in a remote village in Sulu.

Senior Superintendent Antonio Feyra, Sulu police provincial commander, said Evangeline Taverisma, 57, was rescued in Barangay Kuppung in Indanan town at around 5:20 a.m. after 63 days in captivity.

Freyra said the victim with her captors were spotted in a coconut field by members of Indanan police led by Inspector Nasaruddin Jailani and Superintendent Amil Baanan of the Sulu Public Safety Company.

He said after little resistance, the kidnappers escaped and left Taverisma.

Taverisma was immediately brought to Sulu Provincial Hospital for medical checkup.

The kidnappers, led by Nasir Timbang and a certain Palu, earlier demanded a P5 million ransom for the kidnap victim's release. Taverisma was on her way home to Barangay Tagbak, when she was seized by four armed men last Aug. 3.