ZAMBOANGA CITY (June 21) –Gunmen believed to be Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members on Wednesday seized two people, including an ex-wife and daughter of a former mayor, in the province of Sulu, a military official said.
Talipao Mayor Nazer Tulawie confirmed the abduction of his stepmother Addang Tulawie, 60, and his half sister Edelyn. Edelyn is Addang’s daughter by Tulawie’s father.
Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, said the incident happened around 2:20 a.m. Wednesday in the boundaries of Barangay Kandaga and Kuhaw, Talipao, Sulu.
Addang is the ex-wife and Edelyn is the daughter of former Talipao Mayor Tambrin Tulawie, whose son Nebukadnezar is the town’s incumbent mayor.
Besana said the victims were sleeping slumber when the suspected ASG gunmen barged into their residence and seized them.
He said the victims were believed to have been taken to Barangay Simumaan, Talipao.
He said members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT), in coordination with the Army’s 501st Infantry Brigade, have already launched pursuit operation to rescue the victims. -with reports from Bong Garcia
