ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 02 Aug) Unidentified men snatched the daughter of a university president in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines, where the Sayyaf group is known to operate, officials said
Officials said the 19-year old Grace Gonzalez was seized late Tuesday near their house in Guiwan village after gunmen attacked and injured her female companion.
Local radio reports said Gonzalez's companion was rushed to hospital after one of the men hit her in the head with the butt of his gun. The victim is the daughter of Dr Eldigario Gonzalez, president of the state-owned Western Mindanao State University .
"We still don't know the motive, but the police are closely working with the victim's family," said Superintendent Francisco Cristobal, chief of the local police force.
He said victim's family had received previous kidnapping threats and that police was investigating whether it was connected to the abduction of Gonzalez.
No group claimed responsibility for the abduction, police said.
The military is also tracking down the victim, said Army Colonel Edgardo Gidaya, commander of a local anti-terrorist task force.
"There is an ongoing investigation and we cannot say at this time who were behind the abduction or whether the Abu Sayyaf was involved or not, but security forces are now tracking down the victim," he told the Zamboanga Journal.
Just early this year, a young daughter of a senior police official was also kidnapped in Zamboanga City and until now is being held captive. But officials remain silent on who was holding the girl.
Authorities blamed the Abu Sayyaf group in several high profiles kidnapping of foreigners and wealthy Filipino in Zamboanga City . The group had previously kidnapped a German canning executive here, two Belgians and a Taiwanese matriarch and Fililipino-Chinese traders.
Officials said the 19-year old Grace Gonzalez was seized late Tuesday near their house in Guiwan village after gunmen attacked and injured her female companion.
Local radio reports said Gonzalez's companion was rushed to hospital after one of the men hit her in the head with the butt of his gun. The victim is the daughter of Dr Eldigario Gonzalez, president of the state-owned Western Mindanao State University .
"We still don't know the motive, but the police are closely working with the victim's family," said Superintendent Francisco Cristobal, chief of the local police force.
He said victim's family had received previous kidnapping threats and that police was investigating whether it was connected to the abduction of Gonzalez.
No group claimed responsibility for the abduction, police said.
The military is also tracking down the victim, said Army Colonel Edgardo Gidaya, commander of a local anti-terrorist task force.
"There is an ongoing investigation and we cannot say at this time who were behind the abduction or whether the Abu Sayyaf was involved or not, but security forces are now tracking down the victim," he told the Zamboanga Journal.
Just early this year, a young daughter of a senior police official was also kidnapped in Zamboanga City and until now is being held captive. But officials remain silent on who was holding the girl.
Authorities blamed the Abu Sayyaf group in several high profiles kidnapping of foreigners and wealthy Filipino in Zamboanga City . The group had previously kidnapped a German canning executive here, two Belgians and a Taiwanese matriarch and Fililipino-Chinese traders.
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