Gunmen seize jeep filled with passengers in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Unidentified gunmen flagged down and seized a public utility jeepney on Sunday along with its 26 passengers in a village of Ungkaya Pukan town, Basilan, security authorities reported.

The jeepney with plate number JCM-930 driven by Mambik Uyong was flagged down about 7:30 a.m. at the crossing of Barangay Pipil road.

The police said the unidentified gunmen commandeered the jeepney with 26 of its passengers and fled toward the remote place of the same village.

The police and military forces immediately conducted pursuit after they were alerted of the incident and recovered the vehicle in the border of Barangay Pipil.

The vehicle was recovered by the pursuing police six hours later without firefight as the suspects immediately escaped.

The Basilan Provincial Police Office (BPPO) reported that no one was harmed by the gunmen. The passengers were reportedly placed under questioning before releasing them.

The police was investigating the motive behind the incident.