ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanews/30 April) – Another businessman was abducted in Jolo, Sulu Friday, bringing to two the number of victims held hostage by armed men believed to members of the Abu Sayyaf.
Police Director Felicisimo Khu, Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO)-West, said Nelson Lim, 67, owner of Times Hardware and Plaza Panciteria in downtown Jolo, was seized at around 5:30 p.m.Friday as he was walking home in Sitio Lambayong, Barangay Bus-bus, Jolo.
Khu said Lim was heading home when seven armed men blocked him at gunpoint and dragged him to a black L-300 Mitsubishi van.
Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) spokesperson, identified one of the seven bandits as Asman Sawadjaan, a mid-level leader of the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.
Combined police and Marine forces immediately launched rescue operations upon receipt of the abduction report but failed to recover the victim who was reportedly taken to the direction of Barangay Sandah in Patikul town, Khu said.
He said pursuing troops have recovered the black van colored with plate number JBY-608. The van is registered in the name of Laja Bagatsing.
Lim is the second Filipino-Chinese businessman seized by the Abu Sayyaf in Western Mindanao since December.
Largio Tam Delos Santos, owner of the Farmland Resort and the Font Restaurant in Isabela City, Basilan, was abducted December 16 while he was in his resort in Barangay Lanote.
The suspects were reportedly led by Nurhassan Jamiri.
The abductors initially demanded P20 million ransom but later reduced this to p5 million and later to P1 million. Delos Santos remains in captivity. (MindaNews)