2 telecom technicians kidnapped in south Philippines

Gunmen abducted two telecommunication technicians Tuesday afternoon in a Patikul town in southern Philippine province of Sulu, a security official said Wednesday. The latest victims of the abduction were identified as Nasri Abubakar, a 40-year-old resident of Jolo island, and Dennis Aloba, a 30-year-old resident of Zamboanga City. Both are technicians of Globe and Q-Tel companies, said Sulu provincial police director Abraham Orbito. Based on initial police investigation, the victims were on their way to Jolo town on a motorcycle driven by Aquino Hadjula when they were flagged down by 10 unidentified gunmen at 3:55 p.m.. Government troops rushed to the said site but failed to find the victims and the suspects. Sulu is considered the stronghold of al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf terrorist group, which is notorious for kidnapping of both locals and foreigners.