WestMinCom chief confirms kidnapped British national, wife rescued

Photo courtesy of military

Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana on Monday confirmed that the British national and his wife who were kidnapped in Zamboanga del Sur last October were rescued by security forces in Parang, Sulu.

Sobejana told GMA News Online that no ransom was given to the abductors, who were suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf group.

"Wala, kasi we do not allow ransom payment. At the more (na may) ransom, the more ma-develop 'yung kalaban," Sobejana said.

He said the rescue was conducted via pure military operations.

According to Sobejana, the couple was rescued after a 10-minute firefight at the boundary of Barangay Silangkan and Taha.

"Purely rescue and sunod-sunod na encounter," Sobejana said.

"They were on the run. We took advantage of it. Talagang we pursued, we did a hot pursuit, so it's a convergence of efforts among our forces on the ground," he added.

Sobejana said it has not yet been determined if there were casualties on the enemy's side.

He considered the rescue of the couple as a big blow to the morale of the abductors, noting that the latter may retaliate.

"They are demoralized kaya i-take advantage natin 'yun. We have to continue our security efforts but of course we do not discount the possibility na they will retaliate," Sobejana said.

The WestMinCom chief also said the military still has to rescue three Indonesian nationals from the kidnappers.

Asked about the condition of the couple, Sobejana said: "Pa-undergo ko muna medical examination and custodial debriefing."

"Ipa-checkup ko. I'm going to Jolo, ipa-checkup pa namin sa hospital," he added.

The British national and his wife were abducted by four armed men on October 4 at the beach resort they owned in Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur.

They were herded into two motorized bancas which went into opposite directions, one going to Pagadian and the other one going to Lanao del Norte.

A joint task force was created to rescue the couple. —KG, GMA News