9-year-old boy abducted in Basilan - Navy

MANILA, Philippines - A nine-year old boy was abducted by still unidentified men in the southern Philippines province of Basilan, a Navy official said Sunday. The boy was abducted by three unidentified armed men aboard a motorcycle at the back of their house in Barangay Malinis, Lamitan Citym at about 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said in a text message to reporters. At first the victim's mother looked for her missing son. But two hours after she failed to find Chester, she sought the help of authorities. Initial investigation showed that the abductors passed through rivers to evade checkpoints. Basilan is a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf, which has been implicated in a number of kidnappings in the past. But as of this posting, authorities have no lead as to the identity of the captors. Brig. Gen. Rustico Guerero of the 1st Marine Brigade in Basilan said elements of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 7 and the Basilan police were rushing search operations to prevent the abductors from getting deeper into the jungle. The abduction of Gruta comes on the hills of the abduction of the three International Committee of the Rec Cross volunteers in Sulu and the abduction of three teachers off the coast of Zamboanga City.Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV