ZAMBOANGA CITY –- A businesswoman escaped a kidnap attempt Saturday by the Abu Sayyaf bandits in the Province of Sulu, a top military official said Sunday.

Colonel Alan Arrojado, Joint Task Group Sulu commander, identified the would-be victim as Adelaida Hablo, a resident of Gandasuli village, Patikul, Sulu.

Arrojado said Hablo was aboard a tricycle that was waylaid by four Abu Sayyaf bandits around 5:15 p.m. Saturday in front of the Notre Dame High School for Boys in the village of Busbus, Jolo.

But Hablo managed to escape and ran toward a police detachment and sought help, prompting the policemen on duty to respond.

Arrojado said the bandits fired at the responding policemen but missed their targets. They fled on foot to different directions, leaving behind two motorcycles and a four-wheel getaway vehicle.

Arrojado said the suspects are followers of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Ninok Sappari.

Hablo is the mother of Archie Hablo II, who was also a kidnap victim. The Abu Sayyafs kidnapped Archie on October 22, 2013 in the village of Gandasuli, Patikul.

The Abu Sayyafs released Archie eight months later, after payment of unspecified amount of ransom, in the village of Kaunayan, Patikul, Sulu.

The Hablo family is into hardware business in Jolo, the capital of Sulu. (Sunnex)