MILF task force to help rescue kidnapped gas station owner

MANILA, Philippines -  The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has mobilized its Task Force Ittihad to assist government security forces in rescuing a gasoline station owner and her secretary who were kidnapped in Libungan, North Cotabato Tuesday night.

Von Al Haq, MILF spokesperson, said they have identified the kidnappers of Annie Datuwata and her secretary, identified only as Christabelle, following the arrest of the alleged operator of the pump boat the kidnappers used to bring the captives from Libungan to the swampy borders of Maguindanao and North Cotabato. 

“The BIAF (Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces) troops accosted the operator of the motorized boat. He identified the leader of the kidnappers,” said Al Haq in a statement posted at the in MILF’s official website luwaran.com 

“The government and MILF Adhoc Joint Action Group and the coordinating committee on cessation of hostilities are working to ensure the successful search and rescue operation for the kidnapped victims,” Al Haq said. 

Local officials in Libungan said the kidnappers could still be moving from one area to another, since the relatives of the kidnap victims have yet to receive a ransom demand.  

Col. Prudencio Asto, public affairs chief of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, confirmed that they are coordinating with the MILF task force to find the kidnappers.

The kidnappers robbed Datuwata’s gasoline station before forcing the victims into a heavily tinted van. The van was later found burned and abandoned near a river east of Libungan. – With John Unson