Health worker escapes from Abu Sayyaf gunmen

MANILA, Philippines -- A health worker who was kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf gunmen in Lamitan, Basilan managed to escape from his captors late Saturday, officials said.

Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command spokeswoman Lt. Stephanie Cacho said government health worker Eleazar Gumera took the opportunity to escape after he was allowed by his captors to attend to a personal necessity.

“He ran away when he had the chance, walked for several hours and swam in the sea,” Cacho said.

She said Gumera was picked up by fishermen who left him in Barangay Bato in Lamitan yesterday morning.

Gumera was brought to Lamitan Mayor Roderick Furigay before the former hostage was turned over to the custody of the military for debriefing.

Furigay said Gumera saw the chance to escape after his captors became disorganized by the presence of soldiers near their area.

“Jong-Jong (Gumera’s nickname) took the courage to escape after sensing the kidnappers were already alarmed by the movements of Marines in the area,” Furigay said.

Gumera, 45, a midwife of Lamitan Hospital, was abducted last Jan. 28 after he was baited with an emergency call by the kidnappers.

Gumera’s escape has left three teachers, a businessman, a nine-year-old boy and a lending employee still held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf in the island province.

Furigay said it was not immediately known from Gumera if he saw the three teachers and the rest of the hostages.

A separate batch of kidnap victims that included three officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and a Chinese businessman, are still being held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.

Last Friday, troops recovered Amid Sali, one of the two money lending company employees who were abducted by suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in Sumisip, Basilan last Tuesday.

Sali, an employee of Kasanyangan Foundation Inc., was kidnapped along with colleague Leah Laping.

Sali reportedly took the opportunity to escape when his captors became confused by troops scouring the area. Laping, however, still remained in captivity.

Troops from the Marine Battalion Landing Team 1 recovered Sali in Barangay Upper Mahayahay in Maluso town.

A few days ago, Filipino-Chinese businessman Diongin Que, was snatched by Abu Sayyaf gunmen while on his way home in Kakuyagan Village in Jolo.

Residents of Sulu are planning to hold a rally to protest the continued kidnapping by the Abu Sayyaf in the province.

“There are plans right now for example, the children, the kids they are trying to see if it would be possible to hold a peace rally, which is multi-sectoral led by out government and then of course the religious (sector) will be there,” said Lt. Col. Fatima Rasul, civil-military operations officer of the Jolo-based anti-terror Task Force Comet.

Rasul said the rally would be part of continuing efforts to appeal to the Abu Sayyaf to release the three ICRC officials.

“They are condemning the (kidnapping) incidents because they know that development projects would be hampered if the security of the donors are not assured,” Rasul said. –With Roel Pareño