Government troops rescued two relatives of a Sulu mayor hours after they were abducted by the terrorist Abu Sayyaf group on Wednesday in Talipao town, the military said yesterday.

Freed were Edelyn Tulawie, 27, half-sister of incumbent Talipao Mayor Nebukadnezar Tulawie,and her mother Addang Tulawie, 57.

Report said the two were snatched by about 20 fully-armed members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) led by Hatib Sawajaan at their residence in Barangay Kandaga in Talipao at around 2:20 p.m. Wednesday.

Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, spokesman of the military’s Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said that the Joint Task Force Sulu immediately dispatched elements of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion (SFB) to conduct rescue operations.

Subsequently, the 2nd SFB coordinated with local police and barangay officials in the area, particularly in the villages of Sinumaan and Kagay where the victims were reportedly sighted. The two were safely rescued at around 6 p.m.

“While scouring the area, the operating troops were able to rescue the two hostages in the forested area and were immediately brought to the residence of former Talipao Mayor Tambrin Tulawie,” said Besana.

“The troops later escorted the victims to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Hospital in Jolo, Sulu for medical check-up and trauma debriefing,” he added.

For his part, JTF Sulu commander Brig. Gen. Divino Rey Pabayo attributed the safe rescue of the victims to the efforts of local government officials in the area.

“We recognize the efforts of the Local Government of Talipao headed by Mayor Tulawie and all members of the community who did their best to help in the rescue of Edelyn and Addang Tulawie,” said Pabayo.

“It is the peoples’ participation and their resolve against the kidnappers that forced the bandits to abandon the victims in the area where they kept them for several hours. This also signals that the people will no longer tolerate the banditry perpetrated by the ASG in their community,” he added.

The Abu Sayyaf group is still holding 11 hostages, including foreigners.

Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, Westmincom commander, vowed relentless focused military operations against the Abu Sayyaf to rescue all the remaining hostages.

“We will run after them! We are confident that with the Local Chief Executives’ and the peoples’ support in the municipalities of Sulu, we will finally rid the province of the ASG that has been spreading turmoil in the area,” said Dela Vega.