Two naturalized US citizens had been abducted by unidentified gunmen before dawn at 3 a.m. on Tuesday (1900 GMT). The gunmen who were believed to be members of the militant groups Abu Sayyaf who raided a beach resort at Tictabon Island off Zamboanga.
The victims were identified as Gerfa Yeatts Lunsmann, 50, her son, Kevin, 14, and her Filipino nephew, Romnick Jakaria, 19. They were kidnapped by a dozen gunmen while vacationing in a resort. According to Police Chief Nonito Asdai told the reporters that the bodyguards of Lunsmann were told to lie down and they took the victims.
Gerfa Yeatts Lunsmman was born in Tictabon but was adopted during her childhood by a US citizen and she got married with a German National who was based now in the US State of Virginia. The couple had a son, Kevin which was kidnapped also, together with their nephew Romnick Jacaria.
The German husband of Gerfa Yeatts was not with them during the kidnapping incidents. According to some eyewitness accounts the abducted victims were brought towards the direction of Basilan island, a stronghold of the Al-Qaeda linked militant groups Abu Sayyaf.
The United States Citizens victims were the owner the beach resort that was raided by the gunmen in the Southern Philippines. Investigations were still on-going for the immediate rescue of the victims. The US Emb(–foul word(s) removed–)y in Manila had not yet commented with the issue.
According to the latest intelligence reports states that the victims were brought to Sengad village in Tuburan town in Basilan under Abu Sayyaf commander Abu Pula, one of the notorious militant leader in Mindanao.