
ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 18, 2014) – Abu Sayyaf militants abducted a chief mechanic and shot dead his assistant who tried to escape in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, police said Monday.
Police said about 30 militants swooped down late Saturday on the motor pool of the provincial government in Patikul town and abducted Ronald Pelegrin, 39, after fatally shooting Dante Avilla, 29.
It was unknown why the police failed to secure the Capitol compound from such a daring raid.
No individual or group claimed responsibility for the abduction, but police said the Abu Sayyaf was behind it.
In January 2009, Abu Sayyaf militants also kidnapped three Red Cross workers Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba near the motor pool. They were freed several months later in exchange for ransom. (Mindanao Examiner)