GOVERNMENT forces have rescued, following a firefight, the physician kidnapped almost two months ago by the Abu Sayyaf bandits in the province of Sulu, the military said Wednesday, March 25.
Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said Dr. Daniel Moreno was rescued around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the village of Bangalan, Indanan, Sulu.
Sobejana said the joint military and police forces were conducting security operation amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) threat when they chanced upon the group of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Mundi Sawadjaan that resulted to a five-minute firefight.
He said the Abu Sayyaf bandits were forced to release Moreno giving the troops the opportunity to rescue and extricate the hostage from the area during the firefight.
He added that Moreno was transferred to an ambulance of 1102nd Infantry Brigade upon reaching a checkpoint in the village of Timbangan, Indanan and was taken to Camp General Teodulfo Bautista hospital for medical checkup.
The Abu Sayyaf bandits, clad in military and police uniforms, kidnapped Moreno in the evening of February 4 from a clinic in his residence in the village of Walled City, Jolo, the capital of Sulu. (SunStar Zamboanga)