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Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Marines rescue 3 of 5 hostages in Basilan
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Marine troops rescued Monday night three of five non-government organization (NGO) workers who were seized by gunmen believed to be Abu Sayyaf bandits in the island province of Basilan.
The rescue of Romeo Delos Reyes, Dionisio Estandarte, and Ludy Borja Bekit brought down to two the number of captives still in the hands of their abductors.
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They are Esperancita Hupida, program director of Nagdilaab Foundation Inc. (NFI), and Millet Mendoza, of the Christian Children's Fund (CCF) Basilan office.
First Marine Brigade chief Colonel Rustico Guerrero said Tuesday that the three hostages were rescued by the troops from the Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) 10 led by Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Mabalot.
Guerrero said intense pressure from pursuing Marine troops doing the rescue operations prompted the abductors to abandon three of the five hostages shortly after 11 p.m. Monday in a secluded village of Al-Barka town.
Guerrero said the hostages were located through the effort of Tipo-Tipo Mayor Tong Istarul who sent out his men to gather information on the captives.
He said the rescued captives were turned over to their organizations.
NFI president Fr. Angel Calvo confirmed Tuesday that the three hostages are now with them at the NFI office in Isabela City, the capital of Basilan province.
"I am here talking to (Romeo) Delos Reyes," Calvo said.
Guerrero said pursuit operations continue for the rescue of Hupida of NFI and Mendoza of CCF.
NFI is a non-profit organization that implements health, environmental, micro-lending, and similar assistance projects. It especially works hand in hand with Muslim leaders and residents particularly in conflict areas.
The CCF is an international child sponsorship group based in Richmond, Virginia that provides assistance to communities in many developing countries.
The CCF receives grants and donations that support vocational training, literacy training, food distribution, educational programs, early childhood development, health and immunization programs, nutritional programs, water and sanitation development, and emergency relief in both man-made and natural disasters.
The five, along with seven others, were aboard two vehicles on their way back to Isabela City from Tipo-Tipo when flagged down by the gunmen Monday afternoon in the village of Cabangalan, Ungkaya Pukan municipality.
"They have a project in Tipo-Tipo," Guerrero said.
The seven managed to escape from the abductors and two of them reported the incident to the Marine detachment in the area, according to Guerrero.
"It was from the two that we learned they were 12 all-in-all aboard the two vehicles that were flagged down by the gunmen," Guerrero added.
The abductors are believed led by Furuji Indama of the Abu Sayyaf group in Basilan province. (Bong P. Garcia/With reports from Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (September 17, 2008 issue)
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