Military: Abu Sayyaf abducts caretaker in Basilan

A caretaker of a restaurant in Basilan province was kidnapped by the notorious Abu Sayyaf group Monday, a Mindanao-based military official said. Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command, identified the victim as Rolando dela Cruz, caretaker of Cawley Restaurant in Lamitan City. Dela Cruz was kidnapped at around 1:30 a.m., Cabangbang said. Cawley Restaurant is owned by businessman Charlie Cawley. Three Abu Sayyaf members — Nur Hassan Jamiri, Ustadz Salim Tado, and a certain Pula — were identified as Dela Cruz’s kidnappers. “The getaway vehicle multicab was recovered by [Philippine National Police] of Lamitan at Sitio Lagasan, Barangay Kulay Bato, Lamitan. The multicab was burned by the suspect who fled on foot towards Sitio Libi in Barangay Bulanting, Lamitan," Cabangbang said. The al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group has been known to carry out kidnappings in the past, including of foreign nationals. - KBK, GMA News