Teodoro orders increased security in Sacol, Zamboanga

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro ordered yesterday the military to beef up security in Sacol Island in Zamboanga City after three public school teachers were kidnapped there last week.

Speaking after swearing in new Navy ensigns at the Naval Education and Training Command headquarters in Zambales, Teodoro said security measures have also been increased in some areas of Southwestern Mindanao, where three International Committee of the Red Cross workers had been snatched.

“There are more than 1,000 students there and we do not want their studies to be disrupted, so I ordered the military units to increase security in Sacol Island and some other parts of Southwestern Mindanao,” he said.

Teodoro said the military has not stopped operations to rescue the three teachers, who were snatched by gunmen en route to the island from Zamboanga City.

In Sacol Island, a Navy patrol boat chased a pumpboat carrying a group of armed men, but later found out that they were Army soldiers under Task Force Zamboanga.

The troops were in the island under the command of Col. Santiago Baluyot to assure teachers and residents that security would be given to teachers who report for duty.

Meanwhile, a relative of one of the victims confirmed that the kidnappers are demanding P6 million in ransom for the release of Janette de los Reyes, Rafael Mayonado, and Freires Quizon.

Musa Sakaluran, barangay captain of Landang Gua, said the demand was relayed by Janette to her mother.

“The mother said the kidnappers insisted on the P6 million for the victims but the kidnappers did not issue any threat,” he said. “That’s what I heard from the mother.” – James Mananghaya, Roel Pareño