Abu Sayyaf frees Cafgu member
ZAMBOANGA CITY: Suspected Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) gunmen have freed a Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) member they kidnapped in Zamboanga del Norte in August but are still holding his wife captive in Sulu.
Rufo Roda, 62, was released late on Wednesday in Jolo town after negotiators reportedly paid over P1 million ransom to the kidnappers who wanted more for his wife, Helen, 64.
The military took custody of Roda 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 (WestMinCom) and local police authorities did not issue any statement on Roda’s safe release.
The couple was kidnapped on 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 Barangay Piakan of Sirawai town. A minor, Jering Carbi, was also wounded in the assault.
Last June 28, gunmen also kidnapped six people, including an infant, from a farm in Barangay San Nicolas also in Sirawai. The victims, Feliciano Javier, 28; his wife Elsa, 28, and their five-month-old baby Vincent; and Junior Javier, 22, and wife Rica, 22, and their five-year old son Val, are keepers of a farm owned by Valiente Tolo Felizarta, the town’s municipal engineer.
They were released two weeks later in Barangay Gata in Talipao, Sulu in exchange for an unspecified amount of ransom where they were fetched by soldiers.
Continuing operation
Meanwhile, two ASG gunmen were killed while four others were captured after a brief firefight with law enforcers during a continuing operation against the bandits in Barangay Kajatian, Indanan town, also in Sulu last week.
Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, WestMinCom chief, identified the slain bandits as Jade Hassan alias Radjik and Kemar Jade, while arrested were Lino Tantung, 42; Hamjir Sahidal, 19; Sajiyal Asiral Alamia, 46; and, Arajal Amicul Aida, 46.
Recovered from the site of the clash were a 12-gauge shotgun with eight ammunitions, two .45-caliber pistols with two magazines and 14 live ammunition. Also taken from Sahidal was one heat-sealed sachet containing shabu.
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