A 10-YEAR-OLD boy was seized by gunmen in the province of Sulu, the military reported Thursday, August 16.

Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, said the incident happened around 7:20 a.m. Thursday near a snack house in the village of San Raymundo, Jolo, Sulu.

Besana identified the victim as Zaire Khan Pasil, 10, a Grade 5 pupil of the Notre Dame of Jolo Elementary School.

Besana said Pasil was with his elder sister, Fatima Zaima, 13, aboard a family-owned jeep driven by Aldasir Tallow when accosted and seized by six gunmen who were aboard three motorcycles.

They were on the way to the school coming from Sheik Mustafa Subdivision in the village of San Raymundo, Jolo, when the incident happened.

The gunmen, who left unharmed Pasil's sister and the driver, sped toward Latih village in the town of Patikul, bringing the child with them.

It was not immediately known whether the gunmen are members of the Abu Sayyaf bandits, who are still holding captive 10 persons, including five foreigners, in the province of Sulu. (SunStar Philippines)