ZAMBOANGA CITY – Government security forces pursuing the Abu Sayyaf Group have rescued the businesswoman the bandits seized two days ago in Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte, officials said Wednesday.
Martina Lim Yee, 69, alias Tinang (not Christina as earlier reported) was rescued early Wednesday by the troops from the Army’s 35th Infantry Battalion in the coast of Indanan, Sulu.
“The troops from the 35th Infantry Battalion, Joint Task Force Sulu, rescued kidnap victim Martina Yee in Sulu this morning,” Major Filemon Tan, Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) spokesperson said in a text message.
Tan said the Abu Sayyaf bandits were forced to abandon Yee since she was weak that hampers the movement of the bandits as government troops continue to run after them.
The Abu Sayyaf bandits seized Yee, who owns and manages a hardware, around 3:40 p.m. Monday in the coastal village of Poblacion, Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte.
The bandits dragged Yee to a waiting double-engine motorized banca and sped towards the direction of the village of Pugus, Sirawai.
From there, the Abu Sayyaf bandits transported her to Indanan, Sulu where she was rescued early Wednesday.
Ayub Pia, acting Sirawai municipal administrator, said they were informed Abu Sayyaf bandits abandoned Yee since their motorized banca was damaged when it hit a rock while cruising on shallow water while trying to evade from pursuing government troops.
“The son-in-law was able to talk to her (Martina) through phone,” Pia said.
Pia said the latest information they have is that Yee was taken to a hospital in Jolo, Sulu.