SULU – Suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen have freed a government militia they kidnapped in August along with his wife in Zamboanga del Norte province, but the woman is still being held by the gang in Sulu province.
The 62-year Rufo Roda was released late Wednesday in Jolo town after negotiators reportedly paid over a million pesos ransom to the kidnappers who wanted more for his wife, Helen, 64.
The military took custody of the militiaman in Sulu shortly after his release and brought him to Zamboanga on Thursday where he is currently being kept until he is reunited with his wife.
The Western Mindanao Command and the local police authorities did not issue any statement on Roda’s safe release.
The couple was kidnapped in August 31 after gunmen attacked and killed civilians – Amsid Maugag Callun, Absar Julkanain Gumba, Kabiran Saliuddin Ginsing, Saddam Baitulla Tahir, Jaayri Bairulla Lumihig and Muslimin Adan – in Piakan village in Sirawai town. A minor, Jering Carbi, was also wounded, in the assault.
Last June 28, gunmen also kidnapped 6 people, including an infant, from a farm in San Nicolas village in Sirawai town. The victims, Feliciano Javier, 28; his wife Elsa, 28, and their five-month old baby Vincent; and Junior Javier, 22, and wife Rica, also 22-years old and their five-year old son Val, are keepers of farm owned by Valiente Tolo Felizarta, the town’s municipal engineer.
They were eventually released two weeks later in Gata village in Talipao town in Sulu in exchange for an unspecified amount of ransom and fetched by soldiers. (Mindanao Examiner)
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