ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/06 November) – A municipal mayor in Zamboanga del Norte who was kidnapped by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits earlier this year was released on Monday in an undisclosed place in this city.
The release of Mayor Jeffrey Lim of Salug, Zamboanga del Norte came after his family allegedly paid a P1.1-million ransom to the
kidnappers.
However, Chief Supt. Napoleon Estilles , Police Regional Office-9 director stressed they did not have any information concerning any ransom payment.
Estilles said Lim was picked up by an unidentified mediator upon his release around 10 p.m. Monday.
They reached home in Salug around 3 a.m. Tuesday, the police official added.
Lim, 36, was held captive for seven months and three days. He was seized by 10 gunmen clad in camouflage pants and shirts with “pulis” markings last April 2 while he was at the town bus terminal.
Meanwhile, gunmen also believed to be Abu Sayyaf bandits killed a soldier and injured two others in an ambush in Basilan province, a military official said Tuesday.
Capt. Alberto Caber, spokesperson of the 1st Infantry Division, identified the slain soldier as Pfc Jalil Ahung, a well-respected
Uztadz (an Islamic teacher leading his fellow Muslim soldiers in prayer).
Wounded were Sgt. Abdulnander Bakil and Cpl. Jaime Dugasan who were airlifted to Camp Navarro General Hospital in this city.
Caber said the victims were walking home to their headquarters in Barangay Camalig, Ungkaya Pukan town, coming from their job site in Tipo-Tipo municipality when they were ambushed.
They were assigned to the 55th Engineering Battalion, which the national government deployed in Basilan to help the provincial
government in its infrastructure projects in far-flung areas considered risky for civilian contractors. (MindaNews)
