No connection between 2 separate abductions – PNP

From the Daily Tribune (Oct 13): No connection between 2 separate abductions – PNP

The Philippine National Police (PNP) does not see any connection between the kidnappings of Italian Rolando del Torchio in Dipolog City and the four victims, including three foreigners, snatched from Samal Island.

Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor, spokesman for the PNP, said that police investigators have no information that links the two kidnapping incidents.

“We have not received information that would lead connection between the two kidnapping incidents in Samal and Dipolog,” said Mayor.

Del Torchio was snatched right inside his Ur Choice Pizza House along Quezon Avenue in Dipolog City last Wednesday by more or less 10 armed men.

On the other hand, Norwegian Kjartan Sekingstad, Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall and Filipina Maritess Flor were kidnapped by 11 gun men during a raid at Ocean View Resort on Samal Island last Sept. 21.

Mayor said that the PNP in working closely with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the local government units (LGUs) to address the two kidnappings.

“Ongoing operations and investigation is being undertaken by the PNP and the AFP together with the LGUs for the rescue of the victims and arrest of the perpetrators,” said Mayor.

Authorities have taken into custody Amante Sagario, 49, the registered owner of the Mitsubishi L300 van (TMY 490) used as getaway vehicle by the gun men who snatched Del Torchio.

Based on the video footages from the security camera of the pizza parlor, police authorities identified a certain Saher Munloc, alias commander Red Eye, as behind Del Torchio’s kidnapping.

Munloc, who is tagged as head of the police force of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) 113rd Command, reportedly led the gun men in dragging Del Torchio to the waiting van before being transported at sea using speed boats.

Authorities tagged Munloc as leader of a criminal gang operating in Zamboanga del Norte.

Lorenzo Aseniero, spokesman for the Zamboanga del Norte provincial crisis management committee, said that government security forces have already established sea barrier to prevent Del Torchio’s kidnapping from slipping out of the province.

Meanwhile, search and pursuit efforts by the government security forces for the four kidnap victims from Samal Island have yet to yield breakthrough.

A military official, who asked not to be named, said there has been no significant in the operations — three weeks after the kidnapping.

“No significant development on the Samal KVs (kidnap victims) up to now. Those information for validation have not been fully substantiated up to now,” the official said.

There are reports saying that the four are now under captivity by the Abu Sayyaf group of Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan in the outskirts of Sulu province.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/no-connection-between-2-separate-abductions-pnp