Friday, April 07, 2006

Gunmen Abduct Trader, Cashier In Muslim autonomous region

LANAO DEL SUR (Zamboanga Journal / 07 Apr) Unidentified gunmen seized Friday a Filipino-Chinese trader and his companion in the town of Wao in Lanao del Sur province in the Muslim autonomous region in the southern Philippines, police said.

Superintendent Akmad Mamalinta, commander of police forces in the Muslim autonomous region, said the victims Michael Dy and his cashier, Evelyn dela Cruz, were on van with two others when 7 gunmen flagged down their vehicle and abducted the duo at gunpoint.

Dy's driver and another employee were hogtied and left inside the van, but later escaped and sought help from the police, said Mamalinta.

"We still don't know who were behind the kidnapping, but authorities are investigating and policemen are now tracking down the perpetrators and their hostages," Mamalinta told the Zamboanga Journal.

Dy, a businessman from Valencia City in Bukidnon province, was only visiting his company in Lanao del Sur when abducted, he said, adding the abductors have not demanded any ransom.

No group claimed responsibility for the latest abduction, but police said the gunmen spoke in Visayan and Tagalog dialects. Police did not say what Dy's business is, but other reports said he owns several companies and one of them is SQ Marketing in Lanao del Sur.

Southern Command deputy chief Brig. Gen. Mohammad bin Dolorfino said troops were also helping the police search for the victims. "There is an ongoing search and we are helping the police authorities find the two victims," he said.

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