Abus seize3 social workers

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Abu Sayyaf militants seized three government social workers in the hinterland of Talipao town in Sulu last Thursday afternoon, authorities said. 

The social workers were assigned by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to conduct a survey on possible beneficiaries of the government’s conditional cash transfer program when armed men seized them in Barangay Upper Sinumaan, said Senior Superintendent Abraham Orbita, Sulu police director.

Orbita opted not to release the names of the social workers upon the DSWD’s request. 

Orbita said they were monitoring if the captors have contacted the victims’ families.