Gunmen abduct 2 NGO teachers

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  - Suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen abducted Wednesday night two church-based educators in a coastal village in Lanatawan town, Basilan province, according to authorities and a  religious leader.

The two victims were identified as Frederick Banot and Cherden Masong, all members of the Charity Children Foundation Inc., (CCFI), a church-based and non-government organization (NGO), said Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad.

Jumoad said the two victims were working on the ground as part of the extension services of the church for literacy programs of the Badjaos,  the Muslim sea-gypsy tribe in Basilan.

Senior Superintendent Mario Dapillosa, Basilan provincial police director,  said the  heavily-armed suspects were on board the jungkung, a Malaysian styled watercraft, that landed on the shores at sitio Wharf Pangasaan, Barangay Tairan, Lantawan town.

The suspects stormed the staff house of the CCFI about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and seized the victims before dragging them into the waiting jungkung watercraft.

Dapillosa said the police and military were alerted and responded. However, the suspects and their hostages  have  escaped toward an unknown direction.

The police officer said no group claimed responsibility in the latest abduction incident and the CCFI and local official in the area have yet to be contacted by the abductors.

Police, however,  believed that the abductors are members of  the Abu Sayyaf group operating the kidnap-for-ransom group.

Early this year, suspected marauders also abducted e a fishing boat master patron off Lantawan town and the victim ended up captive in the mountains of Sulu before subsequently released last July after payment of unspecified ransom by the family.