Police rescue abducted student in Sulu

Authorities rescued Wednesday evening a student who was kidnapped in Jolo, Sulu last October, a police official said Thursday. Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said Kenn Klefford Lao, 21, a student of Notre Dame of Jolo College was rescued from his abductors at 8:45 p.m. Wednesday at Sitio Kabbon in barangay (village) Langhob of Patikul town. Cruz said a concerned citizen reported the sighting of Lao in the area, which prompted elements of the Sulu Provincial Police Office to proceed to the area. Surprised by the police raid, the suspects withdrew without firing a single shot, and the victim managed to run toward police position. Recovered from the area where half sack of rice, cooked cassava, cooking wares, several plates, old clothing, pairs of slippers an three mats. It was not immediately known if the abductors were members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf, which operates in the volatile southern Philippines region. Cruz said the victim is now at Sulu headquarters for medical checkup and for turnover to his family. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV