Community pressure led the releases of Sulu kidnap victims

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 2^nd 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