Abu Sayyaf Group abducts 2 public school teachers in Zamboanga Sibugay town

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, March 6 (PNA) -- Two public school teachers were abducted by six gunmen suspected to be members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in an island municipality in the nearby province of Zamboanga Sibugay, the police reported Friday.

Senior Supt. Jose Bayani Gucela, Zamboanga Sibugay police director, disclosed the victims were seized around 7:30 a.m. Thursday in Barangay Moalboal, Talusan municipality.

Gucela identified the victims as Reynadit Silvano, 34, and Russel Bagonoc, 22, both residents of Moalboal and teachers of the Tuburan Elementary School, Talusan.

Gucela said the victims were aboard a motorcycle on the way to Tuburan Elementary School when waylaid by the suspects.

Gucela said the suspects dragged the victims to the shore and forced them to board on a motorized banca and sped to unknown direction.

He said that four of the suspects were identified as Naim Sabdani, Mansul Sabdani, Amadan Sabdani, and Edimar Isnain.

The Sabdanis were residence of Moalboal while Isnain and the other two unidentified suspects were members of the Abu Sayyaf’s Urban Terrorist Group (UTG).

Gucela disclosed that the suspects’ identities were established through the help of Kapdul Hadjiula, the sister of the Sabdanis.

He added that Hadjiula’s statement was corroborated by another witness, who saw the incident.

He disclosed that the motorcycle of the suspects was recovered near the barangay hall and basketball court of Moalboal more or less 200 meters from the place where the victims’ motorcycle was found.

He said policemen in coordination with the military forces are tracking down the victims’ whereabouts.(PNA)
FPV/TPGJR/HIROHITO D. CADION/PJN