Ten gunmen believed to be kidnappers seized late Tuesday the
three grandchildren of the town mayor of Pitogo, Zamboanga del Sur.
Senior Supt. Sofronio Ecaldre, Zamboanga del Sur police
director, said the gunmen seized the children and used them as human shields in
a shootout with police around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in Barangay Poblacion, Pitogo.
Prior to the shootout, Ecaldre said, the gunmen arrived
aboard two motorized bancas and docked at the town’s fish port.
Ecaldre said the gunmen proceeded to the residence of
Chzarenia Kapa Sajulga, a businesswoman, and tried to seize her but failed as
she managed to run and locked herself in a room.
He said the policemen were alarmed and rushed to the
residence of Sajulga after the gunmen tried to destroy to enter the room by
shooting its doorknob.
He said a shootout ensued between the responding policemen
and the gunmen, who were about to leave the area aboard the two motorized
bancas.
He said the gunmen grabbed three children who were at the
fish port and escaped by using them as human shields.
He said the gunmen fled toward the direction of Zamboanga
Sibugay along with the hostages who turned to be the grandchildren of Pitogo
Mayor Richard Garban.
He identified Garban’s grandchildren as Ace Jay Garban, 3;
Zynielle Jay Garban, 2; and, Ledegie Tomarong, 17.
The police official said he coordinated with the Zamboanga
Sibugay Police Office to help locate the children’s whereabouts.
http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2015/04/01/3-grandchildren-of-zambo-sur-town-mayor-seized/
This activity looks like it may be a botched Abu Sayyaf-related kidnap-for-ransom raid.
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