By Nonoy Lacson
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The military formally turned over to Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte Vice Mayor Jaime Felizarta six members of the Javier family whom the military rescued in a remote sitio in Talipao, Sulu, Tuesday night.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Armed Forces of the Philippines, Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WestMinCom) Commander Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega said yesterday they formally turned over to Vice Mayor Felizarta the six rescued kidnapped victims during a ceremony at the Naval Forces Western Mindanao headquarters last Wednesday about 3:30 pm.
Dela Vega identified the rescued kidnapped victims as Feliciano Javier, 30 : Elsa Javier,30: Junior Javier, 22: Rica Javier, 22: Val Javier, 22: and a 6-month old Vincent Javier.
The victims, all residents of Sitio Maasom, Barangay San Nicolas, Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte, were kidnapped last June 28, 2018 at their residence by Jamilo Wahab leader of a Kidnap for Ransom Group (KFRG) operating in the Triple-SB or Sirawai, Sibuco, Siocon and Baliguian area in Zamboanga del Norte.
Dela Vega said "We are glad to hear this good news for the victims' families. Right now, we await for the results of the investigation being conducted by the police to determine the motive for the Javier family’s abduction.
I also ordered our troops in Sulu province to sustain crackdown on all KFRGs in the province in support to the PNP, because it is our commitment to protect the people in our joint area of operations against these lawless elements,” said Dela Vega added.
The military here said combined elements of the AFP and PNP led to the rescue of the six members of the Javier family from Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte around 11pm Tuesday at Sitio Tibangaw, Barangay Gata, Talipao, Sulu.
They rescue operations were in support of the Law Enforcement Operations of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Combined elements of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 3 led by Lt. Col. Ramil Holgado of the Joint Task Force Sulu led by Brig. Gen. Devino Rey Pabayo assisted the police in the rescue operations.