Statement of the Naval Public Affairs Office RE- Kidnapping Incident in Maluso, Basilan

Tuesday, 10 November 2009
BY: LTCOL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office

Marines are hot on tracks of the group responsible in the recent kidnapping incident of two persons reportedly abducted early today, 10 November 2009 in Masluso, Basilan. At around 9AM, BGEN EUGENIO CLEMEN, Commanding General, 1st Marine Brigade based in Basilan dispatched a company of Force Reconnaisance Marines and another Special Operations Platoon of Marines from MBLT-1 to pursue the unidentified kidnappers. The Marines has so far recovered a fragmentation grenade believed to be of the kidnappers in an area where the abductors purportedly halted to rest in transit to the jungles. A company of Army troopers from 32IB also pursues the kidnappers according to BGEN CLEMEN. Meanwhile, a Division Reconnaisance Company from the Army’s 1st Division based in Zamboanga is now rushing to Basilan onboard a Navy boat to reinforce the Marines.

We hope to intercept or catch up with the kidnappers before they reach the mountains and immediately rescue the victims.

No one claims responsibility yet.