'Sayyaf' releases 2 kidnapped telecom technicians - report

MANILA, Philippines - Kidnap-for-ransom gunmen believed to have ties with Abu Sayyaf bandits released two subcontractors of Globe Telecom who were seized Wednesday in Basilan province, dzBB reported late Friday night. The report aired by dzBB's Benjie Liwanag said maintenance technicians Belardo Tolentino and Constancia Aizon would be taken to hospital in Isabela City in Basilan for a medical checkup and a debriefing. Basilan provincial police director Sr. Supt. Salik Macapantar said the release came after an "emissary" talked to leaders of the gunmen. The report did not say if ransom or "lodging fee" was paid for the release of the two. Initial investigation showed three armed men abducted the two technicians in Languyan Mohamad village in Ajul town in Basilan. Tolentino and Constancia, together with other sub-contractors, were returning home after inspecting a Globe cell site when the bandits waylaid the group and seized the two. Naval Forces Western Mindanao (Navforwem) chief Rear Admiral Emilio Marayag Jr. said 11 persons went to Mohammad village but the nine others managed to escape. Macapantar said the two sub-contractors were reportedly seized by the group of Usman Lidjal, a "lost command" leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who has formed an alliance with Abu Sayyaf bandits. A text message sent to one of the broadcast journalists in Zamboanga City said the kidnappers demanded ransom of P3 million for the release of the two Glob sub-contractors. Lidjal's group is also holding captive Preciosa Feliciano, a nurse of the Ciudad Medical Zamboanga. She was seized last July 9 in Zamboanga. Feliciano was brought to Candiis village, also in the town of Mohammad Ajul. Lidjal's group reportedly asked for a P10-million ransom for Feliciano but later reduced this to P3 million. Macapantar noted that kidnapping-for-ransom "is becoming a means of a livelihood of Lidjal's group." - GMANews.TV with a report from Sun.Star