ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / May 22, 2013) – Gunmen seized a social worker and a skipper of a fishing trawler in the restive province of Basilan in the Muslim autonomous region in southern Philippines, authorities said Wednesday.
It said Jennelyn Luna Enpera, who works for the Department of Social Welfare and Development, was abducted in the town of Ungkaya Pukan.
Enpera is in-charge of the government’s anti-poverty alleviation program called Pantawid Pamilya, whose objective is to provide financial support to poor families for the children’s health and education.
The woman was seized from a school by motorcycle gunmen.
Armed men also intercepted a fishing trawler off Lantawan town and seized its skipper Lucio Gonzales, who is based in Zamboanga City.
Police said at least a dozen gunmen in two separate speedboats were involved in the abduction of Gonzales.
No individuals or group have claimed responsibility for the twin abductions. It was not immediately known whether rebels were behind the latest abductions or if only one group was behind it.
Basilan is one of five provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and is notoriously known for its kidnappings and ambuscades.
Provincial government officials rarely release any statement about local abductions and are hardly accessible for media interviews. (Mindanao Examiner)
20