Kidnappers free man, hold on to grandpa in Zamboanga

From the Mindanao Examiner (May 18): Kidnappers free man, hold on to grandpa in Zamboanga

Kidnappers have freed a 21-year old man they kidnapped along with his grandfather in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Sur, military sources said.

It said Ryan Tan had been brought Tuesday by his captors in Zamboanga City where family was waiting. Police were unaware of the Tan’s release and the military learned about this a day later after the man’s family confirmed this.

The fate of his 70-year old grandfather, Antonio, remains unknown. The duo was kidnapped from their home in Maruing village in Lapuyan town on the night of March 23 and fled by boat towards Malangas town, also in Zamboanga del Sur.

No other details were made available by the military about the release of Tan and who were behind their kidnappings, but authorities had previously linked former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and other gangs allied with the notorious Abu Sayyaf group in many ransom kidnappings in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

It was unknown if Tan’s family had paid ransom for Tan’s safe release. No individual or group claimed responsibility for the kidnappings.

http://mindanaoexaminer.com/kidnappers-free-man-hold-on-to-grandpa-in-zamboanga/