The police have activated a task force to rescue three public-school teachers who were kidnapped in Zamboanga Sibugay, officials said.

The abduction of the Zamboanga Sibugay teachers was the second incident involving teachers this year here in the Western Mindanao area.

Task Force Bangkaw-Bangkaw, which is composed of policemen, soldiers and officials and representatives from other concerned government and nongovernment agencies as members, was activated a day after the kidnapping.

Senior Supt. Federico Castro, Zamboanga Sibugay police commander, was designated as the task force chief, with a senior officer from the Army’s 102nd Infantry Brigade as his deputy.

Chief Insp. Alex Lorenzo, Zamboanga Sibugay police spokesman, said the task force met on Saturday and Sunday, but did not disclose what was discussed.

Lorenzo said four teachers were aboard a motorized banca traveling to Naga town proper from the island-barangay of Bangkaw-Bangkaw in the same town when four gunmen aboard on another motorized banca intercepted and seized them at about 3:45 p.m. on Friday.

He said the gunmen freed one of the four teachers after learning she is a Muslim, while the motorized banca operator managed to escape.

Taken hostage were Jocelyn Enriquez, Jocelyn Inion and Noime Mande, all assigned at Bangkaw-Bangkaw Elementary School.

1Lt. Steffanie Cacho, Western Mindanao Command information officer, said the Naval Forces Western Mindanao Command has deployed patrol boats to track down the whereabouts of the kidnappers and the victims.

Ground troops in Zamboanga Sibugay, as well as in nearby areas, have been alerted to track down the location of the victims for possible rescue operations.

Lorenzo said troops have been sent to all the areas where the abducted teachers were possibly brought by the kidnappers. He added that the police have identified the kidnappers.

The families of the victims have not been contacted and no ransom demand has been made, Lorenzo said.

Three other teachers were seized on January 23 on the waters off mainland Zamboanga. They were coming from Sacol Island.

The victims—Janette delos Reyes, Rafael Mayonado and Freirez Quizon±were taken to Basilan.

The kidnappers are demanding a ransom of P6 million, or at P2 million each for the teachers.

The Task Force Trillium disclosed the teachers and the nine-year-old boy from Lamitan City, who was abducted on January 31, were sighted in the town of Tuburan.

The Sri Lankan peace advocate, Umar Jaleel, who was kidnapped on February 13 in Lamitan City is being held captive in the tribounday of Al-Barka, Tipo-Tipo and Ungkaya Pukan towns, also in Basilan.

The lending-company worker, Leah Patris, who was seized on February 3 is being held captive in Sumisip, also in Basilan province.

Police task force activated to rescue kidnapped Zambo Sibugay teachers