SULU – Abu Sayyaf rebels seized early Wednesday a daughter of a former Sulu mayor and his ex-wife in a daring operation right into their own turf in Talipao town, officials said.
Officials said the rebels barged into the house of Eddilyn Tulawie, 27; and seized the woman and her 57-year old mother, Addang. Eddilyn‘s father Tambrin Tulawie was the town’s former mayor, whose son Nezar is the incumbent mayor.
Tulawie’s family did not release any statement, but the twin abductions occurred around 3 a.m. in the village called Kuhaw. The victims were asleep when the gunmen broke into their house and captured them.
The motive of the abductions was still unknown, but the Abu Sayyaf is notoriously known for its ransom kidnappings not only in Sulu, but also in Basilan and Tawi-Tawi provinces which are all part of the Muslim autonomous region; including the Zamboanga Peninsula and cross-border raids in Sabah.
It was unclear why the police and military failed to detect the Abu Sayyaf raid despite an intensive campaign against the brutal group, whose leaders have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
The abductions also occurred while the whole southern region is under an extended martial rule since last year following President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration to address terrorism, rebellion and criminality. (Mindanao Examiner)
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