Abu Sayyaf blamed for abduction of two school teachers in Basilan

Thursday, Sep 05, 2013

Manila: Two teachers were abducted by suspected members of the Al Qaida-linked terror group in the southern Philippines, sources said.

Frederick Banot and Cherden Masong, who teach at the Charity Children Foundation Inc, (CCFI), a church-based and non-government organisation (NGO), were abducted by suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group who entered the school’s staff house in coastal Lantawan town, Basilan province late on Wednesday night, Senior Superintendent Mario Dapillosa, Basilan provincial police director, said in a report that reached Manila.

The two teachers were dragged to a watercraft that docked at Wharf Pangasaan, Tairan village, Lantawan town, said Dapillosa, adding the kidnappers managed to escape with their hostages before the policemen and military men arrived at the school.

The kidnappers have not yet contacted the school authorities

The abducted teachers are part of the literacy progamme of the Catholic Church for the Badjaos, a sea-gypsy tribe in Basilan, said Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad.

The Abu Sayyaf Group has been blamed for kidnap-for-ransom, bombings, beheadings, and other terror activities in the south.

It has given sanctuary to members of the Jemaah Islamiyah who were blamed for the bombings that killed 200 in Bali, Indonesia in 2002.

The Jemaah Islamiyah is the Southeast Asian conduit of the Al Qaida terror group.

By Barbara Mae Dacanay Bureau Chief