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Abu Sayyaf bandits free 10-year-old boy in Sulu

By Ely Dumaboc

November 14, 2018, 7:44 pm

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) released the 10-year-old boy they seized almost three months ago in the province of Sulu, police said Wednesday.

The Sulu Provincial Police Office identified the freed victim as the son of Zaide Ahmad Pasil, chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government in Sulu.

Police said the boy was freed around 7:45 a.m. Tuesday in the town of Patikul, Sulu and was received by his father and uncle.

His release came following successful negotiations headed by a certain Faizal, the neighbor of the Pasil family, police said.

The victim was seized by motorcycle-riding gunmen on Aug. 16 near a snack house in Barangay San Raymundo, Jolo, Sulu.

Earlier, Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, said the boy was with his 13-year-old sister, aboard a family car on the way to school when seized by six gunmen on three motorcycles.

The gunmen, who turned out to be ASG bandits, left unharmed Pasil’s sister and the driver. They then sped towards the direction of Barangay Latih, Patikul municipality, police said.

Police said the victim underwent a medical examination after his release. (PNA)

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