3 Filipinos abducted by Abu Sayyaf in Sulu

ARMED men believed to be members of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf on Saturday kidnapped three people in Timpook village in Patikul, Sulu, an official said Sunday.

Western Mindanao spokesman Major Felimon Tan Jr. identified the victims as Shariff Julhasan Abirin, Levi Gonzales and his wife Daniella Taruc.

He said they were abducted around 10:20 a.m.

“The victims were on board a black multi-cab from Jolo and were heading toward the cell site of a telecommunications company in Bagsak, Talipao, when flagged down by the armed men,” Tan said.

“They were taken going to Sitio Kaban-Kaban.”

Tan said Gonzales was a technician of the telecommunications company while his pregnant wife was merely accompanying him when they were kidnapped on the way there.

President Rodrigo Duterte only recently ordered the police and the military to hunt down and destroy the members of the Abu Sayyaf.