-
ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanews/21 October) – The finance officer of a mining firm who was kidnapped from a hotel in Bongao, Tawi-tawi on May 3 was freed in Indanan, Sulu on October 20, ending five months and 17 days in captivity.
Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, commander of the Joint Task Group Sulu, said Priscillano Garcia, 69, a native of Pangasinan and finance officer of the West Mindanao Mining Company which is into nickel mining in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, was freed shortly after 6 p.m. Tuesday in Indanan, Sulu by suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf.
Garcia was immediately brought to the military hospital in Camp Bautista in Jolo, Sulu.
The victim was kidnapped on May 3 from the the Beachside Inn Hotel and Restaurant in Barangay Simandagit, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi
Arrojado said Abu Sayyaf bandits led by Radullan Sahiron were forced to release Garcia due to pressure from the ongoing military offensive against the bandits in Sulu.
He said Garcia left the Jolo port on board a Multpurpose Attack Craft (MPAC) at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and arrived here at 1 a.m. Wednesday where he was brought to the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Kidnapping Group. (MindaNews)