Suspected Sayyaf gunmen seize child in Tawi-Tawi

ZAMBOANGA CITY--Suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen abducted a child following a brief shootout late Monday in an island town in Tawi-Tawi, police said.

The shootout resulted in the injury of the child’s mother, identified as Rahsa Malyn Asta, said Insp. Albert Carillo, Tandubas town police chief.

Carillo said the gunmen seized the seven-year-old victim at around 9:30 p.m. Monday in Sitio Polao Pinang, Barangay Himba, Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi.

Carillo said investigation showed that the Abu Sayyaf bandits aboard a motorboat arrived and docked at the establishment of Rahim Asta, the victim’s father, to buy gasoline.

He said the bandits suddenly seized the child, prompting Rahim to put up a fight, thus, the brief shootout.

He said the bandits, bringing along with them the child, sped off towards the direction of the province of Sulu.

Rahsa, the victim’s mother, who was hit in her left thigh was rushed to a medical clinic in Sapa-Sapa, a nearby island town of Tandubas. (PNA)