ASG tagged in abduction of water execs in Jolo

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The police and military authorities tagged the Abu Sayyaf group as responsible for the latest kidnapping of couple, who are both officials of the water utility of Jolo, capital town of Sulu, Sunday morning, according to official.

Col. Jose Johriel Cenabre, commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade and Joint Task Force Sulu, said the victims Engr. Bonifacio Salinas and his wife Claire, both of the Jolo Water District (JWD) had just arrived in Jolo, when they were forcibly seized about 5:30 a.m. by six gunmen near their residence at 10th St. Kasalamatan Village, Brgy. San Raymundo.

The suspects with the captive couple escaped on board a tamaraw jeepney toward Barangay Anuling in Patikul, an area previously occupied by the Abu Sayyaf group under Radullan Sahiron.

Cenabre said the Sulu provincial police office and their investigation corroborated that those responsible for the abduction were members of the Abu Sayyaf faction.

“The kidnappers were believed to be members of the ASG who are known for kidnapping in the province of  Sulu,” Cenabre said.

The provincial government of Sulu, police and marines urged the local community to cooperate with them in addressing the spate of kidnapping activities staged by the Abu Sayyaf group.

Cenabre said the provincial police and marines backed by the local government unit have launched pursuit operations to locate and rescue the kidnap victims.

The Abu Sayyaf militants have yet to raise any demand  for the freedom of the Salinas couple, the security official added.