Elite forces were deployed and prepositioned in Maluso town and nearby areas in Basilan to conduct rescue operation against at least four plywood factories who were abducted by members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the island province last Tuesday.

Chief Superintendent Paisal Umpa, director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Police, said the two police maneuver companies have joined hot pursuit operations for the 30 armed suspects who snatched Michael Tan, Oscar Tan, Jerry Tan and a certain Mark at around 12:30 a.m. in Sitio Tahem, Barangay Town Site in Maluso town.

“The 1520th and 1519th Provincial Mobile Groups have joined forces with the Maluso Police Station in conducting follow up operations to locate the victims,” said Umpa.

Members of Provincial Mobile Groups are highly-trained cops specializing in combating insurgents and other threat groups. Unlike ordinary cops, PMG operatives are equipped with high-powered firearms and other combat equipment.

Aside from elite police forces, Umpa said the overall commander he assigned to conduct the pursuit operations, Superintendent Abubakar Tulawie, Basilan Police chief, was also instructed to coordinate with the military for joint operations.

He added that other police units in the entire Basilan were also alerted to extend the necessary assistance in the conduct of operations within their respective turfs.

After the armed men stored the Hightech WoodCraft, the gunmen and their victims were seen heading towards the hinterlands of Barangay Maluso in the same town.

“Checkpoints were set up along major routes and back roads to intercept the suspects and prevent their further movement,” said Umpa.

But amid the tapping of elite government forces, Umpa said a Municipal Crisis Management Committee has been created by Maluso Mayor Sakib Salajin to coordinate all government and efforts to secure the safe release of the victims.

While investigators are yet to identify the perpetrators, a police official said there are indications that the kidnapping was perpetrated by the ASG.

“It’s the ASG but we are still trying to determine the particular group that carried out the kidnapping,” said Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina, PNP spokesman.

Meanwhile, Espina revealed that police authorities in the Bicol Region have positioned troops around the site of an ambush staged by New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Bulan, Sorsogon on Monday.