JOINT forces of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the military have been deployed to seize Abu Sayyaf-linked gunmen, who kidnapped a canteen manager in Basilan on Saturday.
Senior Superintendent Antonio Mendoza, Basilan police director, said two platoons of his command’s public safety management were set out in Sitio Marangan, Basakan village, Mohammad Ajul town.
Examinda Lindio, 43, was kidnapped by gunmen at 4 p.m. in the village of Maganda, Lamitan City.
Lindio, wife of a teacher at the Lamitan National High School (LNHS), manages the school canteen.
Police identified the suspects’ leader as Pulah Montong, who is believed to have strong ties with the Abu Sayyaf. Montong and his group were monitored by police, Mendoza said.
The gunmen have brought Lindio to Basakan village, police said.
He said that checkpoints were established in the possible entry and exit points to Basakan village to “pressure Montong’s group to safely release Lindio the soonest possible time.”
Lamitan Mayor Roderick Furigay has convened Tuesday the Crisis Management Committee to find a solution to the kidnapping incident.
The kidnappers, Lindio’s relatives told police, are demanding P2 million in exchange for the victim’s safe release.