Public school teacher abducted in Basilan - military

A public school teacher was abducted on Monday by still unidentified men in Basilan province in southern Philippines, a military official said. Maj. Gen. Romeo Lustestica, acting commander of the military’s Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom), identified the victim as Cecilia Sosas of Baas Elementary School in Lamitan town. A second victim, Merlyn Yakapin, a Yakan, was also abducted but was immediately freed, according to Lustestica, citing sketchy initial reports. “Nasa bahay sa Lamitan proper na sya (She’s already in her house in Lamitan proper)," said Lustestica of Yakapin. The two were abducted 11 a.m. and were brought toward the area of Tubugan town. Police and military personnel have already been dispatched to locate the victim and arrest her abductors. Basilan is a known stomping ground of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf terrorist group, which had conducted some high-profile kidnappings, including of teachers and foreigners, in the past. - KBK, GMANews.TV