Notre Dame student abducted in Jolo

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 8, 2010) – Police mounted a search Friday for a Filipino student who was reported abducted in the southern town of Jolo, police told the Mindanao Examiner.

Police said it formed a group that would search for Kenneth Lao, 21, who is allegedly being held by a gang after being captured on Thursday outside the Notre Dame College in Jolo.

His family told police that a man phoned them later in the day to say that they are holding Lao captive. It was unknown whether the Abu Sayyaf, a notorious rebel group blamed for the spate terror attacks and kidnappings-for-ransom, has anything to do withy the abduction.

Police did not say if the man demanded ransom for Lao’s safe release.

“We are still investigating this case. We have formed a task force to handle this case,” said Senior Superintendent Joseph Ramac, the provincial police chief.

The mayor of Jolo, Hussin Amin, cannot be reached to give details about the abduction, but other reports said Lao was lured out of his school by a friend whom he was texting and then snatched by armed men. (Mindanao Examiner)