DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippines' largest rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, on Wednesday confirmed the issuance of a shoot-to-kill order by the group against the abductors of a Chinese-Filipino woman who was seized in southern Philippines early this month. But the order could be implemented only as the last recourse after all other means to free trader Conchita Tan become exhausted, Von al-Haq, MILF spokesperson, told a local radio. Al-Haq said their operations to help locate and free the 73- year old Tan, wife of a hardware store owner in Cotabato city continue and the group's forces are in constant alert to prevent mis-encounter with government soldiers and police who have also launched a separate manhunt against the kidnappers.
"We have not coordinated with the military that's why we're extra careful (to avoid confrontations). We are ready to inform and share with the military whatever lead we get as to the whereabouts of the suspects and the victim," Al-Haq said. Philippine authorities blamed the Saudi Kasan group, a local kidnap gang, as behind Tan's abduction on Friday in which the victim's driver and a security escort were also killed.
