Soldiers rescue kidnap victim, but two policewomen still being held in Sulu

May 9, 2018

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Government forces have rescued a kidnapping victim as operations are ongoing to recover the hostages, including two policewomen from the hands of the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu, a top military official said Wednesday.

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Joint Task Forces Sulu commander, identified the rescued hostage as Blas Jackosalim Ahamad, a resident of Sitio Palar, Barangay Gandasuli, Patikul.

Sobejana said Ahamad was rescued by the Marine Battalion Landing Team-3 (MBLT-3) headed by Lt. Col. Ramil Holgado around 2 p.m. Tuesday in Sitio Budjang, Barangay Lihbug Kabaw, Panglima Estino town.

Ahamad was rescued three days after the Abu Sayyaf bandits have released Faizal Ahidji.

Ahidji was freed around 7 p.m. Saturday in Sitio Daang Puti, Barangay Bangkal, Patikul town.

“The valuable information he (Ahidji) shared to us lead to the rescue of Blas Jackosalim Ahamad,” Sobejana said.

The Abu Sayyaf bandits, led by Almujer Yadah, seized Ahamad and Ahidji with two policewomen, PO2 Benierose Alvarez and PO1 Dinah Gumahad, on April 29 in Barangay Liang, Patikul.

Alvarez is assigned with the engineer service division under the regional logistics office of the regional police. She is from Isabela City, Basilan.

Gumahad was undergoing a 45-day criminal investigation course at Regional Special Training Unit-9. She is assigned in the town of Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur.

Sobejana said they continue to uphold the no-ransom policy.

The rescue and release of Ahamad and Ahidji has reduced to 12 the number of hostages, including foreigners still in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf bandits.

The hostages are three Indonesians, one Vietnamese, one Dutch and seven Filipinos.  DMS