Abu Sayyaf bandits seize 3 men in Basilan — police

Three men were abducted on Thursday morning by suspected members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf in Basilan in southern Philippines, a police official said. About 30 "fully armed" members of the bandit group stalled a jeepney at Sitio Mompol, Barangay Libug in Sumisip town at 6 a.m. Thursday and took three of its passengers, Chief Superintendent Bienvenido Latag of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Police Regional Office said in a report. Police identified one of the abducted men as Claudio Mananita, an employee of a local cooperative in the area. The identities of the two other victims were unavailable as of posting time. Latag said the kidnappers were led by Puruji Indama, a mid-level bandit leader currently facing murder raps for the series of bombings in Basilan last April. Authorities have blamed the Abu Sayyaf for various kidnapping and bombing activities not only in southern Philippines, but also in Metro Manila. — with Andreo Calonzo/LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV