Unidentified men abducted am elderly businesswoman who was taking a public utility jeep in Sumisip town in Basilan province Tuesday afternoon. A report on dzXL radio said the abduction of trader Rose Baranda, 60, occurred about 1:30 p.m., while the jeep was crossing Tumahubong village in Sumisip town. Sketchy initial reports showed unidentified armed men blocked the vehicle’s path and abducted the victim. Police are verifying whether the abduction was a kidnap-for-ransom case or a politically motivated incident, citing reports the victim was a supporter of a local village official. Local police and military authorities have launched a hot pursuit operation, with checkpoints in key areas of the town. The provincial government also activated its crisis management committee.
Basilan is a known lair of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf, responsible for a number of kidnapping incidents in the province and other parts of western and southern Philippines. — RSJ
