Troops rescue Chinese hostage, kill 3 bandits

COMBINED police and military operatives killed three Abu Sayyaf members as they stormed the bandits’ lair and rescue a Chinese national in Zamboanga City, the police said.

The police said the rescue operation was carried out around 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Sitio Dulian, Calabasa village, 55 kilometers east of the city.

Rescued was Jampong Lin Yuankai, 38, a Chinese national, who is into iron ore business.

Jampong and his companion, Jian Luo, 48, were kidnapped last June 4 from their rented house in F.L. Peña village, Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Initial police said the troops swooped down Sitio Dulian, Calabasa village, following intelligence report about the hostage and bandits presence in the area.

A 15-minute firefight ensued that resulted in the death of three Abu Sayyaf bandits, who were followers of Ajijul Temeng, an Abu Sayyaf leader.

Jampong and Jian are both natives of Guandong, China.

Jian, 48, was released last August 25, in one of the local hotels after alleged payment of P5 million ransom.

They are into iron ore business and had been frequenting for the past several years in the town of Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay where they do business.