Kidnapped engineer in Basilan rescued - police

(Updated 7:43 p.m.) An engineer reportedly kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf bandit group earlier this month was rescued by police in Basilan province in southern Philippines on Sunday, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) police office reported. Engineer Virgilio "Bing" Fernandez was rescued at 9 a.m. at Barangay Quinanta in Albarka town, the police report said. "It was gathered that the victim was walking along when accosted by the [Special Citizen Armed Auxiliary] members," said Police Director Felicisimo Khu of the Western Mindanao Police. The SCAA members were working for Tipo-Tipo Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries and Development Cooperative. Khu said Fernandez was rescued "without any opposition from his abductors." Fernandez was reportedly kidnapped by a faction of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group in the same municipality last June 3. The rescued victim was presented to Mayor Ingat "Tong" Istarul of Tipo-Tipo town and then brought to the office of Basilan Governor Jum Jainuddin-Akbar, Khu said. The Abu Sayyaf has been largely blamed for a spate of bombing and kidnapping incidents not only in Mindanao but also in parts of Metro Manila. - Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News