Kidnapped teacher trio sighted in Tuburan town

Zamboanga City: An official received information yesterday that three public school teachers who were abducted by gunmen on Friday had been sighted in Tuburan town, Basilan province.

Alkhodari Jakaria, designated principal of the Landang Gua Elementary School and the Landang Gua High School in Basilan, told Gulf News that police a intelligence report indicated that there had been sightings of the abductors and their captives in Tuburan town.

The three teachers were snatched early on Friday while on board a motorised-outrigger from Landang Gua, an island in Basilan, while the group was on their way to the mainland Zamboanga City. According to Jakaria, Rafael Mayonado a teacher with the Landang Gua Elementary School, left the island at around 6:30 am on Friday with Janette Delos Reyes and Frairez Quizon of Landang Gua National High School.

He said the motor-outrigger was intercepted at sea at around 8:00 am by four gunmen on board another boat. The gunmen took the trio and sped off towards Basilan island, according to a witnesses.

Jakaria said Mayonado, a resident of Putik in the mainland Zamboanga City, had reported for work only last Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Department of Education officials complained that it took time for the military to send a helicopter to respond to the emergency.