| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| Kidnapped Muslim filmmakers escape Abu Sayyaf captors |
| 2014-02-21 |
| Philippine authorities have recovered two kidnapped Muslim sisters after they escaped from their Abu Sayyaf captors in Sulu province. Officials said Linda and Nadjoua Bansil, who are both filmmakers, were recovered by security forces in Sitio Kantatang. A message from military radio said, “After eight months in captivity, KVs (kidnapped victims) escaped fm (from) their captors and were recovered in Sitio Kantatang, Buhanginan, Patikul, Sulu by PN (Marines). Due to the pressure by the Sulu governor (Totoh Tan) and opnl (operational) efforts of the soldiers, the kidnappers loosen their grip on the sisters Linda and Nadjoua Bansil. Devt (development) rpt (report) will folw (follow)." Another military report from Sulu province reads: “On February 20, 2014, around five o’clock in the afternoon, a joint special operation conducted by the elements of Marine Battalion Landing Team Six (MBLT-6), Marine Battalion Landing Team Two (MBLT-2) and 2nd Marine Brigade & Sulu PPO with efforts from Sulu Vice Governor Sakur Tan successfully recovered the two kidnapped victims Nadjoua and Linda BANSIL in Sitio Kantatang, Barangay Buhanginan, Patikul, Sulu.” “To recall, Nadjoua and Linda Bansil were Muslim-Filipinos who were abducted last June 22, 2013 in Sitio Baunuh, Barangay Liang, Patikul, Sulu by armed men identified as the young members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu who were allegedly trained by foreign Jihadists. The sisters were working together to produce an independent Film entitled "Coffee Armalite” showcasing Filipino Muslim’ life and culture. On the same day, said kidnapped victims will be brought to Western Mindanao Command (WESMINCOM) for proper disposition,” the report said. The duo, whose mother is an Algerian, was seized on June 22 last year while filming in the town together with members of the Sultanate of Sulu Darul Islam. The kidnappers had demanded ransom from the Algerian embassy through the sisters’ mother. The Abu Sayyaf is still holding several hostages in the southern Philippines and just recently, six gunmen – some of them wearing police uniforms – seized a 28-year old woman, Sabrina Ikbala Voon – in Zamboanga City. Voon was forcibly taken from her home and dragged her to a white van which was later recovered on a neighboring village by pursuing policemen. A regional police spokesman, said police and military forces were searching for the woman. He said the gunmen spoke in Tausug, a dialect widely used in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces. No one has claimed responsibility for the abduction, but officials had previously blamed the kidnapping on the Abu Sayyaf group. |
| Posted by:ryuge |