Photo released by WesMinCom |
By HIROHITO ‘jong’ D. CADION
PAGADIAN CITY (June 23, 2018) - The intensified operations launched
by combined troops of the Joint Task Force Sulu, BPATS, and the Talipao PNP led
to the immediate release of the two kidnap victims at around 6pm yesterday
(June 20), military official said.
WesMinCom
spokesperson LTC Gerry M. Besana disclosed that the troops promptly responded
after receiving reports at 2:20am Wednesday, the half-sister of Talipao Mayor
Nebukadnezar Tulawie (Edelyn Tulawie, 27 years old) and her mother
(AddangTulawie, 57 years old) were forcibly taken by 20 fully armed men. They later
identified as Abu Sayyaf Group members under Hatib Hajan Sawajaan, at their
residence in Barangay Kandaga-Boundary Kuhaw, Talipao, Sulu.
Their
residence is about 5-km away from the town center of Talipao. At around 6pm of
the same day, combined elements of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion
led by Captain Ambrocio, Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams, and PNP led by PCI
Lango responded to the report that the perpetrators together with their
hostages were sighted along the boundary of Barangay Sinumaan and Barangay
Kagay, Talipao, LTC Besana said.
While
scouring the area, the operating troops were able to rescue the two hostages in
the forested area and were immediately brought to the residence of former
Talipao Mayor Tambrin Tulawie, Besana added.
He also
said that the troops later escorted the victims to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo
Bautista Hospital in Jolo, Sulu for medical check-up and trauma debriefing
"We recognize the efforts of the Local Government of Talipao headed by
Mayor Tulawie and all members of the community who did their best to help in
the rescue of Edelyn and Addang Tulawie.
It is the
peoples' participation and their resolve against the kidnappers that forced the
bandits to abandon the victims in the area where they kept them for several
hours, he said.
“ also
signals that the people will no longer tolerate the banditry perpetrated by the
ASG in their community,” said Brigadier General Divino Rey Pabayo, commander of
the Joint Task Force Sulu.
WesMinCom
Commander General Arnel B. Dela Vega said, that he ordered the intensification
of intelligence monitoring to locate the perpetrators for them to face the full
force of the law.
“We will
run after them! We are confident that with the ‘Local Chief Executives and the
peoples support’ in the municipalities of Sulu, we will finally rid the
province of the ASG that has been spreading turmoil in the area,” Lt Gen Dela
Vega added.
As of press
time, pursuit operation is being conducted to neutralize the fleeing bandits. To
date there are a total of 11-hostages who are still in the hands of their
abductors, WesM8inCom spokesperson concluded.
Photo released by WesMinCom |
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