Soldiers rescue family of six in Zamboanga del Norte

July 18, 2018

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Government troops rescued six people, including two children, seized by a kidnap-for-ransom-group on Tuesday in Zamboanga del Norte, the military reported Wednesday.

The Joint Task Force Sulu reported to the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) that the victims were rescued around 11 p.m. Tuesday in Barangay Gata, Talipao, Sulu.

Rescued were Feliciano and Elsa Javier, both 28 years old; couple Junior and Rica Javier, both 22 years old; Val Javier, five years old, son of Junior and Rica; and, Vincent Javier, five months old, the son of Feliciano and Elsa.

Chief Supt. Billy Beltran, Zamboanga regional police director, said the victims were seized by a group led by Jamilon Tukalan alias Jamilon Wahab on June 28 in Sitio Maasom, Barangay San Nicolas, Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte.

The six were  caretakers of a farm in Sitio Maasom, Barangay San Nicolas, owned by Eng’r. Valiente Felizarta, municipal engineer of Sirawai town. DMS