ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 18, 2011) – A kidnapped trader and his wife have been freed unharmed in the southern Philippine town of Jolo, an army spokesman said on Monday.
The couple, Jose Batronel and his wife as Jocelyn, arrived Monday in Zamboanga City, but details of their release were unknown, said Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, a spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command.
“Both victims are already in Zamboanga City. They were transported by a navy boat that arrived today. No information if ransom was paid,” he told reporters.
He said kidnappers freed the hostages separately over the weekend and were brought to hospital in Jolo town for medical examination before transporting them to Zamboanga.
Police said couple was kidnapped from their room after five gunmen barged inside a lodging house in Jolo town on July 13. The victims are natives of Batangas province in Luzon Island and are engaged in selling of foam mattresses and small appliances, and also into money lending in Jolo.
No group has claimed responsibility for the latest abduction, but previous kidnappings had been largely blamed to the Abu Sayyaf which is still holding an Indian and a Malaysian national in Sulu province. (Mindanao Examiner)
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