Abu Sayyaf gunmen kidnap 10 construction workers

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Abu Sayyaf gunmen seized and held hostage 10 construction workers Monday morning in a far flung town of Basilan province, security officials said.

The victims were aboard a dump truck when they were waylaid by 20 Abu Sayyaf gunmen led by Kik Alamsirul alias Abu Kik about 9:20 a.m. along the highway of Barangay Upper Binembengan in Sumisip, said Lt. Col. Recaido, commander of the 64th Infantry Battalion.

The military said the gunmen herded the victims, all Muslim males and workers of MACE Construction, from the dump truck.

The victims were later brought back to the truck which the gunmen commandeered toward the nearby sub-village of Crossing Pennas. 

They were identified as as Munib Sadidul, truck driver; Nasser Jallaha; Merhusin Ubbay; Mustapha Gapul; Abukaisir Nasilin; Jaya Abdulla; Johan Sarao; Nadzhar Gardon; Alsibar Jauhari; and Margani Alpha.

The victims were deployed to complete sections of the unfinished Basilan circumferential road in Sumisip area, the area described to be critical due to the presence of the Abu Sayyaf group who have threatened the contractors.

The Basilan Provincial Police Office reported that negotiation was underway for the safe release of the victims.

The Joint Task Group Basilan  under Col. Rolando Joselito Bautista has also deployed troops in the area.