Telecoms Workers Abducted in Southern Philippines

Two sub-contractors working for Philippines operator, Globe Telecom have been abducted in Barangay Languyan in Mohammad Adjul municipality in Basilan. The local police Senior Superintendent, Salik Macapantar told reporters that the two men were taken after inspecting a base station tower in the area. A team of eleven staff were reported to be working in the area and an armed group stopped them, but only snatched two of the workers.

Macapantar identified the men as Pilardo Tolentino and Jayson Constancia, both residents in the area.

The abductors are alleged to be Usman Lidjal, who is an Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) lost command leader that has allied with the Abu Sayyaf bandits and kidnap-for-ransom-group in Basilan province.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is a Muslim separatist rebel group located in Southern Philippines.

Posted to the site on 17th July 2008