MANILA, (PNA) — Troops from the 104th Infantry Brigade were deployed Thursday to rescue the two teachers abducted by still unidentified persons in Sitio Pangasaan, Barangay Tairan, Lantawan, Basilan Wednesday evening.
The former is a field unit of the 1st Infantry Division.
Col. Carlito B. Galvez, 104th Infantry Brigade commander, identified the victims as Frederick Banot and Cherden Masong.
Both were forcibly taken by unidentified armed men in their boarding house around 7:30 p.m.
The two were dragged to waiting speedboats which then fled towards southwest direction.
The two victims are members of the Charity Children Foundation, a Catholic non-government organization engaged in missionary effort to help the Badjao and Yakan children in Basilan.
Galvez also dispatched Wednesday night the 14th Special Forces Company to conduct seaborne checkpoint in the municipal water of Maluso, Basilan.
Likewise, intelligence operatives were also deployed to monitor the coastal areas of Lantawan, Maluso and Hadji Muhtamad for possible enemy hideouts.
Coordination with leaders of Moro National Liberation Front, Moro Islamic Liberation Front and local government officials of Maluso and its adjacent municipalities was also conducted for possible identification of the group.