Troops looking for abducted child, recover high-powered guns

July 10, 2018

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Troops trying to rescue a child seized by the Abu Sayyaf last June 25 recovered three high-powered firearms in a law enforcement operation in Sulu , the military reported Tuesday.

Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, said the firearms were recovered around 5:50 a.m. Tuesday in Sitio Kambal, Barangay Pang, Kalingalan Caluang, Sulu.

Besana said recovered were one M-16 Armalite and two M-14 rifles and ammunition as well as military and police uniforms.

Besana said the operation was launched following reports that seven-year-old Radzmalyn Asta was seen in Sitio Kambal, Barangay Pang.

But Besana said the child's captors fled upon sensing the troops arrived.

“Intensified pursuit and intelligence operations are continuously being launched by our troops and the PNP (Philippine National Police) to track down the abductors and rescue the victim,” Brig. Gen. Divino Rey Pabayo, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, said.

Asta was seized by a group of Abu Sayyaf bandits in the evening of June 25 in Sitio Polao Pinang, Barangay Himba, Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi. DMS