Troops recover 5-year old girl kidnapped in Zamboanga Sibugay

By Teofilo P. Garcia Jr

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 13 (PNA) -– Combined police and military forces have safely recovered a five-year-old girl who was kidnapped last month in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, a police official announced Thursday.

Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) information officer Chief Insp. Ariel Huesca said the victim was safely recovered after she was freed around 4 p.m. Tuesday at a secluded area in Barangay Poblacion, Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Huesca identified the victim as Alexa Dela Cruz, who was seized at her residence last January 11 in Sitio Tabion, Barangay Kima, Payao municipality.

Huesca said the victim’s parents are rice traders in the town of Payao.

He said “no ransom” was paid in exchange for the released of the victim.

He said the victim was immediately taken to the municipal health office for medical check-up after her release.

He said the victim was handed over to his father, Alejandro Dela Cruz, in the presence of Payao Mayor Carol Mendoza.

He said that the police of Payao have already filed criminal charges against five people tagged as among those responsible in the kidnapping of the young girl.

Huesca did not elaborate the details except to say that investigation continues in a bid to unmask the identities of the other suspects. (PNA)
CTB/TPGJR/UTB