Abu Sayyaf terrorists who kidnapped Vietnamese arrested

By Roy Ramos

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (AA) – Four members of the Abu Sayyaf terror group involved in the abduction of Vietnamese nationals were arrested Monday in the southern province of Basilan.

The Philippine Star reported that the militants were among 30 members of the Daesh-linked group responsible for the hijacking of the Vietnamese cargo vessel, MV Royal 16, off Sibago Island and seizing six of its crew members in Basilan last November.

Those arrested were identified by Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodoro Sindac, the regional police chief for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, as Taha Upao, Bryan Upao, Ibrahim Akhmad and Ibno Akhmad.

The decapitated bodies of two of the six hostages who have been identified as Hoang Thong and Hoang Va Hai, were recovered July 5 by government forces in Basilan.

Three days later, authorities retrieved the body of another Vietnamese executed by the terrorists, identified as Tran Khac Dung in the southern province of Sulu.

In June, one of the hostages, Hoang Voh, was able to escape the kidnappers.

Government forces continue to carry out intense operations in Basilan as they attempt to locate and rescue at least 20 Indonesian and Malaysian hostages, as well as the remaining Vietnamese sailors.