THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Tuesday, October 8, it is implementing a naval blockade in a bid to apprehend the abductors of a couple in Zamboanga del Sur.
Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) commander Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana said they deployed naval assets in Ilyana Bay, Moro Gulf, Basilan Strait and in the coastal waters ofn Zamboanga del Sur to preempt the possible transfer of British national Allan Hyrons and his Filipina wife Wilma to Basilan and Sulu.
He said they are also mobilizing their air assets to monitor the possible movement of the group.
The Hyrons were taken by at least six men from their resort in Barangay Alindahaw, Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur around 6:50 p.m. on Friday, October 4.
Sobejana said search and rescue operations continue particularly in Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan and Lanao del Sur as well as in Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.
The Wesmincom commander said they were looking at two possible groups behind the abduction, the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group or former employees of the couple who might hold a grudge.
Police have released the composite facial sketch of three of the six men who took the couple.
One of them is 5’3" to 5’4” in height, with medium build, has dark complexion and is 30 to 35 years old. The second is 5’2" to 5’4”, also with medium build, with fair complexion and is 25 to 30 years old while the third is 5'3" to 5’4”, with medium build, also has fair complexion and is 55 to 60 years of age.
The Zamboanga del Sur provincial government has also offered a P1-million reward for information that would lead to the rescue of the victims and the arrest of the suspects. (SunStar Philippines)