source: sunstar 

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Local government officials in the island province of Basilan are receiving abduction threats from Abu Sayyaf bandits along with businessmen and media men covering the government’s offensive operation in the island.

Basilan Vice Governor Al-Rasheed Sakalahul said the elected officials from provincial, city and municipal levels have become targets of abduction by the Abu Sayyaf Group on suspicion that they are helping the military in the offensive operations against them.

“They believed the mayors, the municipal councilors and other provincial officials are giving information or aid to the military,” Sakalahul said.

Sakalahul, who was a former military man, however, was confident it will not be easy for the Abu Sayyaf bandits to abduct any of the elected officials in the province.

He advised the elected officials of the province’ two cities and nine towns, including business and media men, to take the necessary precautions to avert any abduction plan by the Abu Sayyaf bandits.

As this developed, Sakalahul and Lantawan Mayor Tahira Ismael believed that the Abu Sayyafs have already managed to flee towards Sumisip town from where they are being pursued.

Ismael is the president of the league of mayors in Basilan province.

Thousands of troops are pursuing the leaders and members of the Abu Sayyaf bandits in the towns of Tipo-Tipo and in the newly-created municipalities of Al-Barka and Ungkaya Pukan

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